Gas prices in Western Pennsylvania are three cents more expensive over the week at $3.136 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.
Gas prices have been on the rise in many of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states, with some making the list of the top 10 largest jumps in the country. Statewide, Pennsylvania gas prices are about three cents higher than this time last week ($3.08).
For a second week, gasoline inventories in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast region added more than 1.6 million barrels. Totaling at 69 million barrels, inventories sit at the highest level since June 2017. Despite the build, prices continue to increase due to more expensive crude oil.
This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average: $3.136
Average price during the week of October 1, 2018: $3.105
Average price during the week of October 9, 2017: $2.779
The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in various areas:
$3.121 Altoona
$3.138 Beaver
$3.139 Bradford
$3.237 Brookville
$3.136 Butler
$3.137 Clarion
$3.100 Du Bois
$3.118 Erie
$3.154 Greensburg
$3.159 Indiana
$3.176 Jeannette
$3.188 Kittanning
$3.177 Latrobe
$3.150 Meadville
$3.084 Mercer
$3.029 New Castle
$3.154 New Kensington
$3.153 Pittsburgh
$3.044 Sharon
$3.106 Uniontown
$3.178 Warren
$3.103 Washington
On the National Front
The national gas price average increased three-cents on the week to $2.91, with all but seven states paying more. Today’s national gas price average is six-cents more than a month ago and 41-cents more than a year ago. The September switch-over to winter-blend gasoline ushered in cheaper gas prices compared to the summer, but the drop was short lived.
Crude oil accounts for much of the retail pump price, and crude is currently selling at some of the highest price points in four years amid concerns of global crude supply and geopolitical tensions. As a result, fall gas prices have not been this expensive since 2014. At that time, motorists were paying on average more than $3/gal and crude oil was selling well above $70/barrel. This year, despite inventory increasing over the week, crude oil is selling at $25 or more per barrel than last year. Today, the price for a barrel of oil is hovering around $74.
With gas prices taking an unseasonable turn, AAA offers the following tips for conserving fuel:
- Accelerate gradually. Avoid jackrabbit starts.
- Slow down. If you travel at 60 mph instead of 70 mph on a 20-mile highway commute, you would save about 1.3 gallons of gas in a five-day work week.
- Anticipate your stops. When approaching a red light, let your foot off the gas as early as possible.
- Carpool or use public transit. Also consider combining errands to cut down on amount of time on the road.
- Avoid long warm-ups in the morning. They’re unnecessary and waste fuel.
- Maintain recommended tire pressure. Low pressure reduces fuel economy and can damage tires.
- Keep the air filter clean. Clogged filters reduce fuel economy and increase exhaust emissions.
Motorists can find current gas prices nationwide, statewide, and countywide at GasPrices.AAA.com.
AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 80 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members. News releases are available at news.eastcentral.aaa.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
For More Information, Contact:
Jim Garrity, Public & Community Relations Manager
Desk: 412-365-7274 / Cell: 412-905-9021 / Email: Garrity.James@aaaec.com
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