PITTSBURGH — Bradford motorists are paying an average of $3.667 a gallon for unleaded, self-serve gasoline this week, according to the American Automobile Association’s Fuel Gauge Report.
Elsewhere across the region, the average price for gas stands at $3.72 a gallon, which is six cents more than last week, AAA officials said. Nationwide, the average price at the pump is $3.67 per gallon, which is two cents more than last week, 14 cents more than one month ago and 15 cents more than the same date last year.
Refineries are required to start producing summer-blend gasoline by May 1, and in anticipation of this date often go offline for scheduled maintenance at this time of year. AAA officials said the decrease in supply can cause prices in certain areas to rise, but fluctuations have been minimal thus far this season. Over the past few days, a number of refineries had to temporarily shut down or restart in order to perform unscheduled maintenance. These supply disruptions during the planned changeover have the potential to put additional upward pressure on prices, and are worth monitoring as we approach the switchover deadline and enter peak driving season.
The following is a list of the average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in various areas: $3.729, Altoona; $3.667, Bradford; $3.760, Brookville; $3.770, Clarion; $3.696, DuBois; $3.611, Erie; $3.712, Indiana; $3.794, Kittanning; $3.798, Meadville; $3.732, Pittsburgh; and $3.598, Warren.
