The average price of gasoline across Western Pennsylvania is almost two cents more expensive this week at $2.698 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.
In the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast region, gas prices range from $2.28 (Virginia) to $2.67 (Pennsylvania). As regional gasoline inventory tightens, six states’ average prices jumped seven cents or more and land on the top 10 list of largest changes in the country on the week.
Since the beginning of February, regional gasoline stocks have decreased by 6.3 million barrels due to ongoing planned and unplanned refinery maintenance. As stocks diminished, total inventory tightened to 64.9 million barrels – one of the lowest levels seen in the region this year. However, inventories are at a year-over-year surplus of 3.1 million barrels, according to Energy Information Administration (EIA) data.
This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average: $2.698
Average price during the week of March 4, 2019: $2.681
Average price during the week of March 12, 2018: $2.790
The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in various areas:
$2.636 Altoona
$2.689 Beaver
$2.760 Bradford
$2.712 Brookville
$2.598 Butler
$2.740 Clarion
$2.743 Du Bois
$2.726 Erie
$2.634 Greensburg
$2.755 Indiana
$2.746 Jeannette
$2.750 Kittanning
$2.689 Latrobe
$2.751 Meadville
$2.716 Mercer
$2.589 New Castle
$2.705 New Kensington
$2.697 Pittsburgh
$2.675 Sharon
$2.660 Uniontown
$2.760 Warren
$2.614 Washington
On the National Front
On the week, the national gas price average and that of 26 states jumped a nickel or more. The national average has been steadily increasing for the last three weeks, currently sitting at $2.47. During that time, gasoline inventory has gradually decreased while demand has started to increase and crude oil prices have fluctuated. Combined, these factors are driving up gas prices across the country. Today’s gas price average is a nickel more than last week, 20 cents more expensive than a month ago, but five cents less than last year.
At the close of Friday’s formal trading session on the NYMEX, West Texas Intermediate dropped 59 cents to settle at $56.07. Oil prices fell at the end of last week following the release of lower-than-expected job growth data in the U.S. and continued concerns that a slowing global economy could bring weaker global crude demand later this year. Moving into this week, crude prices may rise as the global crude supply tightens due to OPEC’s 1.2 million b/d production reduction agreement in place through at least June 2019 and U.S-imposed crude export sanctions on Iran and Venezuela.
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 and Legislative Affairs Manager
Desk: 412-365-7274 / Cell: 412-905-9021 / Email: Garrity.James@aaaec.com
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