Gas prices are climbing in northeast Ohio this week.

According to AAA East Central's Gas Price Report, the price in the region is 12 cents higher than last week, coming in at $3613 per gallon.

The price is almost exactly the same as this time last year.

In the Mahoning Valley, Niles has the lowest price at $3.455, followed by Youngstown at $3.551.

The current national average sits at $3.81 per gallon.

AAA says pump prices remained neutral even as Hurricane Idalia caused damage in the southern U.S. The demand for gas during the summer vacation season did not match previous years, contributing to gas prices remaining fairly steady.

Last week, gas demand actually increased slightly from 8.91 million barrels per day to 9.07 million, but fluctuating oil prices counteracted the higher demand.