Pa. Gas Prices Cross the Three-Dollar Mark

The average price of gasoline across Western Pennsylvania is nine cents higher this week at $3.051 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

The average in the region is more than 50 cents higher than at the beginning of the year.

This week’s average prices are:

Western Pennsylvania Average: $3.051

Average price during the week of March 1, 2021: $2.967

Average price during the week of March 10, 2020: $2.604

Trend Analysis

With a nickel increase on the week, the national gas price average has reached $2.77, which is a 31-cent jump in the last month. Every state average has climbed by double-digits since February, resulting in one in 10 gas stations with pump prices that are $3 per gallon or more.

Pump prices are increasing as refinery utilization is at an all-time low and crude oil prices (WTI) surged by more than $2 per barrel to $66 per barrel on Friday, March 5, the highest price in nearly two years.

The jump in crude followed the surprise decision to minimally increase production in April by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ and its allies, collectively known as OPEC-plus.

The Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) report for the week ending February 26 shows refinery capacity at 56%, which is the lowest rate recorded by the agency. It is also 12 percentage points below last week and 18 percentage points lower than a year ago. EIA data also point to a decrease in gasoline stocks to 243.4 million barrels, which is 3.5% below levels at the end of February 2020.

With refinery utilization at a record low, gasoline supplies tightening, demand modestly increasing, and crude prices on the rise, prices are likely to remain this high. Today’s national average is nearly 40 cents more expensive compared to a year ago, which was right before state lockdowns and working/school from home started.

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

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 73 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.