PITTSBURGH — Gas prices in Western Pennsylvania are down by four cents this week at $3.039 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.
As pump prices continue to drop across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast region, motorists in Pennsylvania ($2.99) are paying some of the cheapest prices to fill-up since May. The state is one of four in the region that has consistently been $3.00/gallon or more most of the summertime.
The Mid-Atlantic and Northeast region saw the largest draw in gasoline stocks of any region with a 2.3-million-barrel drop, some of which can be attributed to exports. Despite the decline, levels are relatively strong at 67 million barrels total — a nearly 11 million surplus year-over-year.
The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in Bradford is $2.983; in Brookville, $3.085 in Brookville; $3.081 in Clarion; $2.989 in DuBois; $3.050 in Erie; and $3.075 in Warren.
The national gas price average has been dropping slowly and steadily for the past 16 days. At $2.82, it’s the lowest since mid-September. The last few weeks saw peak refinery maintenance season start to wrap-up and push less expensive gas prices — but the lower prices may not be a long-term trend. AAA expects gas prices will likely increase as early as later this week ahead of the Nov. 4 Iran sanctions announcement and the mid-term elections. How expensive gas prices may be remains to be seen. However, motorists are not likely to pay summer prices this winter.
