A gallon of regular gas in Ohio was listed at an average of $3.58 in Monday’s survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express. That’s 15 cents cheaper than last Monday’s average of $3.73.

Lower oil prices have helped decrease how much drivers are paying for fuel. Oil prices have been near their lows for the year amid lingering concerns about global economic growth and ample crude supplies in the U.S.

The national average for regular gas is $3.70 per gallon, down a nickel compared with a week ago.

The higher gasoline prices cause some commuters to look for relief, others are resigned to the high cost of getting to and from work.

At the start of another workweek, Rocky Reed fills his gas tank at a Granville station, 35 miles east of Columbus. Inside, he bought coffee and smokes for his daily commute but paid little attention to the pump price for his gas.

No because it wouldn’t matter for me anyway, I drive a hundred miles a day. So, you figure 500 miles before I do anything for myself.

Reed says gas prices have been high for so long he rarely takes notice anymore. He paid nearly 60 dollars to fill his gas tank. He’ll need to fill it again in three days.

At the next pump, Cindy Steen also prepares for a long commute and doesn’t give much thought to the cost of gasoline.

“I really can’t afford to, because I commute an hour and a half a day.”

Reporter: “So what do you spend a week on gasoline?”

Steen: I don’t even think about it. Probably about $75.”

At $75 per week, Steen would spend nearly $4,000 this year for gasoline.

The federal energy department says last year the average household spent nearly three thousand dollars for gas. Gas prices peaked in Ohio in July of 2008 just a few cents north of 4 dollars per gallon.

Now, after more than four years of high gas prices, Triple A’s Kimberley Schwind says the motor club fields few driver complaints.

People just kind of muddle through it and do what they can to help conserve gas and you know save a little bit of money.

But, Ohio State University economist Matt Lewis says drivers are doing more than muddling through.

“They are reducing their usage a little bit and they’re buying more fuel efficient cars which softens the effect high prices have on their budget.”

Case in point: Matthew Green of Newark who traded in a six cylinder Jeep model for a used four cylinder ride.

“So I got me a little gas saver. It’s definitely not the nicest on the eyes but it helps a little bit. I had to spend money to save money. I definitely get better gas mileage but still the gas prices are ridiculous.”

Analyst Patrick DeHann at Gasbuddy.com says Green and other Central Ohio drivers could see some slight, temporary relief from high gas prices.

What we’ve seen is this tremendous rise up in prices to start the year. It’s much earlier than what we’ve been used to seeing. So there could be another second rally in prices that holds off until April or May.

And if pump prices increase again in the Spring, commuters like Rocky Reed will have little option but to dig a little deeper in their pockets to pay for gas.

“I can’t walk there, I mean what are you going to do. You have to do what you have to do.”

The average price for a gallon of regular gas was $3.40 in Monday’s survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express. That’s 8 cents higher than a week ago but level with the average at this time last year.

Nationally, the average cost has dropped to its lowest level since midsummer. It was about $3.44 per gallon on Monday.

That’s down slightly from $3.47 a week ago and about the same as the average a year ago.

“Budget customers” are those who spread their payments through the year to avoid higher bills in the winter. The average budget bill is now $82, but Columbia spokesman Ken Stammen says beginning next month, that will fall 35 percent to $53.

“Production is healthy, supplies are high. It’s just a complete reversal, really, of where we were two years ago,” Stammen says.

Stammen says month-by-month customers have seen similar savings in recent years.

Stammen credits the mild winter for lower gas demand this winter. Supplies are also high because of emerging gas harvesting methods, including the controversial drilling technique known as “racking” that’s led a gas boom in parts of Ohio and several other states.