The average price of gasoline across Western Pennsylvania is a penny cheaper this week at $3.036 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.
On the week, prices increased as much as nine cents in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast region. Statewide, the average price for gasoline across Pennsylvania is a penny more expensive this week at $2.98.
After last week’s more than 3-million-barrel decline, regional gasoline stocks dropped by another 1 million barrels this week, as reported by the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Levels are tight at a total of 59.2 million barrels. However, expected imports in the weeks ahead should help to replenish supply, which could help balance retail prices.
This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average $3.036
Average price during the week of April 15, 2019 $3.042
Average price during the week of April 23, 2018 $2.973
The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in various areas:
$2.939 Altoona
$3.003 Beaver
$2.995 Bradford
$3.166 Brookville
$2.974 Butler
$3.066 Clarion
$2.992 Du Bois
$3.082 Erie
$3.012 Greensburg
$3.072 Indiana
$3.091 Jeannette
$3.110 Kittanning
$2.992 Latrobe
$3.089 Meadville
$3.013 Mercer
$2.903 New Castle
$3.082 New Kensington
$3.067 Pittsburgh
$2.959 Sharon
$3.098 Uniontown
$3.087 Warren
$3.006 Washington
On the National Front
With only a penny increase on the week, the national gas price average saw the smallest one-week jump since mid-February. For the last eight weeks, weekly jumps ranged anywhere between a nickel and a nearly a quarter. Thirty states saw pump prices increase or decrease by three cents or less, which helped keep the national average relatively steady.
While the slow-down in gas prices is a welcomed change by motorists, it could be temporary. Gasoline stocks nationwide continue to tighten, measuring below levels compared to the same time in the past three years. While imports are helping and West Coast refinery maintenance is nearly finished for the time being, it’s too early to know exactly how much these factors will steady prices, especially as the summer driving season approaches.
Due to Good Friday observance, markets were closed, but at the end of Thursday’s formal trading session on the NYMEX, West Texas Intermediate increased 24 cents to settle at $64.00. EIA data released last week reported total U.S. crude oil stockpiles dropped by 1.4 million barrels to 455.2 million. Crude imports to the U.S. also slowed: the most recent week's import rate of 5.992 million b/d is almost 2 million b/d lower than the same week last year. EIA also reported that total U.S. gasoline inventories dropped by 1.2 million barrels.
Motorists can find current gas prices nationwide, statewide, and countywide at GasPrices.AAA.com.