The average price for gasoline across Northeast Ohio is 11 cents higher this week at $2.08 per gallon, according to AAA East Central's Gas Price Report.

The average price last week, December 14, 2020 was $1.96

At the same time last year during the week of December 23, 2019 the average price was $2.48

Average prices of the unleaded self-service gasoline in various areas in northeast Ohio:

• $2.02 Alliance
• $2.05 Ashtabula
• $2.06 Cleveland
• $2.05 Elyria
• $2.09 Independence
• $2.03 Lorain
• $2.04 Ravenna

Locally average prices are:

• $2.05 Boardman 
• $2.01 Canfield
• $2.03 Columbiana
• $1.99 Cortland
• $2.04 Girard
• $2.05 Hubbard
• $2.02 Liberty
• $2.04 Poland
• $2.06 Niles
• $2.04 Salem
• $2.09 Struthers
• 2.02 Vienna
• $1.99 Warren
• $2.05 Youngstown

Pump prices across the country are rising as the end of 2020 approaches.

Since Monday, the national gas price average has jumped six cents to $2.22.

While not the most expensive price of the year, this is the highest national average since mid-September.

Today's national average is 11 cents more expensive than last month, but 33 cents cheaper than last year.

Two factors have largely contributed to driving up the price at the pump: rising crude oil prices and tightening supply.

The domestic price of crude has been steadily rising since November, with prices topping $49/barrel.

Prices have not been this expensive since February, before stay-at-home guidance was introduced across the country.

Energy Information Administration data show U.S. gasoline supply levels sit at 238.7 million barrels, which is 1.6 million barrels more than a year ago.

While a healthy supply, the year-over-year surplus has been much larger through the last nine months.

While the combination of tightening supply and rising crude prices would typically drive prices up even higher, it is expected that the extremely low demand for gasoline should offset those major increases in the weeks ahead.