The Republic
Local gas prices that reached $3.59 for a gallon of unleaded regular three weeks ago were down more than 50 cents this week.
Most Columbus stations were selling a gallon for $3.04 to $3.11 Tuesday, although across the state some prices had dipped below $3.
U.S. Energy Information Agency reported Tuesday that recent price reductions were the result of refinery problems being addressed and gasoline imports increasing.
Motorists should not get too hopeful, however, of further reductions.
EIA stated in its monthly Short-Term Energy Outlook that regular unleaded gasoline is projected to average $3.05 a gallon this summer.
Nationwide, the average price peaked at $3.22 a gallon May 21. In Indiana, the price reached an average high of $3.48 May 26. One year ago, the average Indiana price was $2.82 a gallon. Other than the recent dip, gas prices have been on a steady climb since Jan. 1, when the Indiana average was $2.12. A wild card for this summer is the hurricane season. EIA reported that national forecasters are predicting an active hurricane season that could create crude-oil-production outages in August and September.