The average price of gasoline across Western Pennsylvania is 10 cents more expensive this week at $2.791 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.
Three Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states land on the list of the top 10 most expensive gas price averages in the country (including Pennsylvania, $2.75). The Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) weekly data puts total stocks for the region at 63.5 million barrels following a draw of 1.4 million barrels for the week ending March 8. This is the lowest regional stock level seen this year and is a 4-million-barrel deficit compared to this time last year. The tightened stocks can be attributed to exports as well as to planned and unplanned refinery maintenance during the winter season. As maintenance wraps up and refineries increase production, inventory levels are expected to increase in coming weeks, which has the potential to help stabilize gas prices.
This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average: $2.791
Average price during the week of March 11, 2019: $2.698
Average price during the week of March 19, 2018: $2.769
The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in various areas:
$2.725 Altoona
$2.749 Beaver
$2.853 Bradford
$2.790 Brookville
$2.725 Butler
$2.850 Clarion
$2.798 Du Bois
$2.837 Erie
$2.772 Greensburg
$2.850 Indiana
$2.792 Jeannette
$2.854 Kittanning
$2.785 Latrobe
$2.850 Meadville
$2.859 Mercer
$2.669 New Castle
$2.820 New Kensington
$2.781 Pittsburgh
$2.732 Sharon
$2.776 Uniontown
$2.859 Warren
$2.674 Washington
On the National Front
Since early February, gasoline demand has been steadily increasing while stocks have been gradually decreasing, leading to more expensive pump prices across the country. At $2.54, the national gas price average is 7 cents more expensive on the week and 23-cents more than last month.
Today’s price is, however, just as expensive as the same day a year ago. In fact, for the first time since the end of November last year, the national average the past four days has been nearly identical to the same time last year. That being said, only 20 states have seen the same trend, with the rest of America seeing yearly differences from as much as 25-cents cheaper to 10-cents more expensive.
At the close of Friday’s formal trading session on the NYMEX, West Texas Intermediate dropped 9 cents to settle at $58.52. Oil prices took a hit last week as the market continued to have concerns about the global economy slowing this year, which could weaken global crude demand later this year. Moving into this week, prices will likely remain volatile following news from OPEC that it will not hold a meeting this April regarding its crude reduction pact with other global crude producers. Instead, OPEC will meet in late June to allow the cartel more time to determine if it should work with its partners to extend the current production reduction agreement beyond June.
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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