Northeast Ohiio - Gas prices are starting to climb once again in the Mahoning Valley according to AAA East Central's Gas Price Report. 

Currently, the average in Northeast Ohio is $3.318 per gallon with the statewide average being $3.167 per gallon. This is the highest price since September of 2014. In 2020 during the week of Nov. 9, the state average was $2.051. 

According to data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), total domestic gasoline stocks decreased by 1.5 million barrels to 214.2 million barrels during the previous week.

However, gasoline demand rose from 9.32 million barrels a day to 9.5 million barrels a day. This slight increase in demand has contributed to price increases while elevated crude prices continue to put an upward market pressure on pump prices.

At the close of Friday's formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate increased by $2.46 to settle at $81.27.

Although crude prices gained for the day due to a weakening dollar, crude prices mostly declined last week after EIA reported that total domestic crude supply increased by 3.3 million barrels to 434.1 million barrels.

However, according to EIA's data, the current shortage level is approximately 10.4% lower than the same time in 2020. A tighter oil supply helped keep crude prices above $80 per barrel.