11/2/17 – 5:24 A.M.

Local gas prices have spiked this week. OhioGasPrices.com reports the average price for a gallon of regular is now $2.67 in Findlay. That’s the highest average we’ve seen since the middle of June of 2016. Prices have jumped nearly 20 cents over the last week alone.

Patrick DeHaan is an oil analyst with Gas Buddy and says there are a few reasons for the sudden increase. Refineries are producing lower amounts of gas due to maintenance and lower inventories are pushing prices higher. DeHaan also says the shut down of the Explorer Pipeline to repair a leak is limiting the flow of oil from the Gulf of Mexico to refiners.

⚠️ Reasons for pain at the pump in Midwest: refinery maintenance taking place (limiting ⛽️ production), Explorer Pipeline leak causing shutdown and limiting flow of barrels from Gulf (repair underway), gasoline inventories in region at 2yr low. Relief will take time. #OOTT

— Patrick DeHaan ⛽️ (@GasBuddyGuy) November 1, 2017