COLUMBUS — Gas prices around Ohio continue to climb as summer nears.

The average for a gallon of regular fuel in Ohio was about $2.39 in Monday’s survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and WEX Inc. That’s up 7 cents from last week.

At this time last year, it was just $2.17.

The national average was slightly higher than the state average Monday at $2.42, up a penny from a week ago. The national average was much lower a year ago at $2.13.

Locally, prices ranged from $2.37 per gallon at Meijer in Delaware to $2.49 at the Marathon on Sunbury Road Tuesday afternoon, according to ohiogasprices.com.

AAA says prices at the pump have been rising as the switch is made to more expensive summer-blend gasoline and driving demand increases.