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Western PA Gas Prices Remain above National Average as Demand Increases

Pennsylvania, Gas Prices
Sunrise at gas station by Don DeBold
Photo by Don DeBold https://www.flickr.com/photos/ddebold/ https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

At the start of the busy summer driving season, gas prices in Western Pennsylvania this week are holding at $2.636 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.  Elsewhere across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast region, growing demand for gasoline pressured pump prices higher.  At $2.58, Pennsylvania is on the list of the top 10 most expensive gasoline prices in the country. 

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average:  $2.636
Average price during the week of May 22, 2017:  $2.632
Average price during the week of May 31, 2016:  $2.537

The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in various areas:   
$2.652      Altoona
$2.678      Beaver
$2.572      Bradford
$2.688      Brookville
$2.636      Butler
$2.650      Clarion
$2.561      Du Bois
$2.621      Erie
$2.658      Greensburg
$2.598      Indiana
$2.702      Jeannette
$2.663      Kittanning
$2.649      Latrobe
$2.644      Meadville
$2.684      Mercer
$2.583      New Castle
$2.659      New Kensington
$2.664      Pittsburgh
$2.454      Sharon
$2.670      Uniontown
$2.659      Warren
$2.636      Washington


On the National Front
Today’s national average is $2.37 - one cent more than a week ago, two cents more than a month ago and five cents more than a year ago.  Rising gasoline demand has resulted in dropping gasoline inventories across the country, according to the latest Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) report.  Last week, U.S. demand for gasoline jumped to the highest level this year, while inventories dropped by 800,000 barrels.  If the trend continues, consumers can expect to see summer gasoline prices potentially return to the high prices seen in April, when the national average for a gallon of gasoline was $2.42.

The price per barrel of crude oil opened at less than $50 on Tuesday morning.  The market remains lukewarm after last Thursday’s meeting with OPEC and non-OPEC producers regarding an extension of production cuts.  Although the group agreed to extend the cuts through March 2018, market watchers were not surprised by the move and hoped that OPEC would take more drastic measures, like deepening the cuts beyond 1.8 million barrels per day.  Additionally, OPEC’s efforts to rebalance the market continue to be thwarted by rising oil production in the US, which is at it’s highest since April 2015. The bright spot in the market is the advent of summer, which typically sees more drivers on the road and usually leads to greater demand reducing gasoline inventories in the US.

Motorists can find current gas prices along their route with the free AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. The app can also be used to map a route, find discounts, book a hotel and access AAA roadside assistance. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile.

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 81 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members.  Past 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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AAA East Central is a member club affiliated with the American Automobile Association (AAA) national federation and serves members in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.