COLUMBUS — Ohio gas prices have edged up 2 cents from last week as they remain in the shadow of $3 a gallon without hitting that mark.

A survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express shows Ohio’s average price for regular-grade gasoline is $2.93 per gallon, up from $2.91 last Monday.

The state’s motorists are paying a nickel less than the national average of $2.98 for regular.

Drivers in several states already are paying $3 a gallon or more. However, some analysts expect the national average to stay just below that through the end of the year, then rise above $3 in the spring as the peak driving season approaches.

One year ago, Ohio’s average price for regular was a lower $2.57 a gallon, on average.