OHIO — The average price of a gallon of regular gas passed $4 in parts of Ohio on Tuesday, according to AAA data. 

The Cincinnati and Akron regions both reported average gas prices above $4 on Tuesday. The Cincinnati area had the highest average gas price in Ohio with the average price on Tuesday hitting $4.01, a 19-cent jump from Monday, according to AAA. 

Akron had the second-highest average gas price in Ohio at $4 per gallon, also a 19-cent increase.

AAA reported the statewide average for a gallon of gas in Ohio on Tuesday reached $3.98, which is up 15 cents from Monday, and 57 cents from a week ago. Average gas prices in Ohio are up 71 cents from a month ago.

Ohio approaches the $4 mark as the Biden administration announced Tuesday that the U.S. would ban all oil and energy imports from Russia. Although the Biden administration released gas from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, that has not been enough to counter rising prices. 

“What is also true is that because of the actions of President Putin, because he invaded a sovereign country, that created instability in the markets,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday. “That is something the president talked about even before Russia and President Putin moved forward with their actions.”

While gas prices continue to rise, AAA has tips on its website for ways to save money at the pump.