AAA: Gas Prices Continue to Rise in PA

Gas prices are five cents higher in Western Pennsylvania this week at $3.941 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report. 

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average                          $3.941
Average price during the week of September 18, 2023                                     $3.894
Average price during the week of September 26, 2022                                     $3.902

The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in various areas:      

$3.953      Altoona
$3.912      Beaver
$3.885      Bradford
$3.890      Brookville
$3.956      Butler
$3.930      Clarion
$3.940      DuBois
$3.972      Erie
$3.926      Greensburg
$3.987      Indiana
$3.956      Jeannette
$3.943      Kittanning
$3.954      Latrobe
$3.947      Meadville
$3.999      Mercer
$3.844      New Castle
$3.941      New Kensington
$3.999      Oil City
$3.925      Pittsburgh
$3.922      Sharon
$3.946      Uniontown
$3.999      Warren
$3.931      Washington

Trend Analysis: 

The national average for a gallon of gas has dropped four cents over the past week and is now at $3.84. The decrease is typical this time of year as much of the country makes the switch to less expensive winter blend gasoline. However, the gradual seasonal decline in pump prices is being slowed by higher oil costs, hovering around $90 per barrel. Today’s average is two cents more than a week ago and 13 cents more than a year ago.

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand rose slightly from 8.31 to 8.41 million barrels per day last week. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks declined slightly from 220.3 to 219.5 million barrels. Higher gas demand, amid tighter supply, has contributed to elevated pump prices, but oil remaining above $90 per barrel continues to steer the price increases.

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate dropped by 92 cents to settle at $90.28. Oil prices decreased due to ongoing market concerns that energy demand could be lowered if future interest rate increases tip the U.S. economy into a recession. Additionally, prices declined despite the EIA reporting that total commercial crude stocks decreased by 2.1 million barrels to 418.5 million barrels last week.

Motorists can find current gas prices nationwide, statewide, and countywide at gasprices.aaa.com.

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 69 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.