Western Pa. Gas Prices Cool Off a Little

The average price of gasoline across Western Pennsylvania is a penny cheaper this week at $2.975 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

States in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast region saw a fluctuation in changes at the pump this week, with prices up or down by as much as five cents (Pennsylvania, -1 cent).

The latest Energy Information Administration (EIA) data reports regional refinery utilization at a steady 69 percent, and despite the low utilization, gasoline inventory grew by a little more than 250,000 barrels.

The last two weeks of gasoline stock builds, though small, are helping to keep gas prices mostly stable in the region.

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average – $2.975

Average price during the week of July 15, 2019 – $2.983

Average price during the week of July 23, 2018 – $3.087

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

$2.752 Altoona

$2.945 Beaver

$2.995 Bradford

$3.083 Brookville

$2.996 Butler

$2.997 Clarion

$2.895 Du Bois

$3.034 Erie

$2.975 Greensburg

$2.999 Indiana

$2.999 Jeannette

$3.011 Kittanning

$2.961 Latrobe

$2.952 Meadville

$3.019 Mercer

$2.894 New Castle

$2.993 New Kensington

$2.988 Pittsburgh

$3.011 Sharon

$2.977 Uniontown

$2.999 Warren

$2.973 Washington

On the National Front

On the week, all but eight states saw gas price averages push cheaper or remain stable. At $2.76, the national gas price average is three cents less expensive than last Monday. This is the first time in four weeks that the national average has seen a weekly decline. Gasoline stocks remain robust amid a recent dip in demand, which could be one reason pump prices are starting to ease after weeks of increases.

At the close of Friday’s formal trading session on the NYMEX, West Texas Intermediate increased by 33 cents to settle at $55.63. Crude prices mostly declined last week after the International Energy Agency (IEA) announced that it does not expect oil prices to rise significantly because demand is slowing and there is a glut in global crude markets.

Motorists can find current gas prices nationwide, statewide, and countywide at GasPrices.AAA.com.