PITTSBURGH — Gas prices in Western Pennsylvania are almost two cents cheaper this week at $2.446 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.  

On the week, gas prices dropped three to five cents across all Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states (Pennsylvania, -4 cents). The latest Energy Information Administration data shows gasoline stocks built by 724,000 barrels in the region. Analysts speculate this was a low and partially due to low import rates on the week. Total stocks now sit at 61 million barrels.

The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in Bradford is $2.539; in Brookville, $2.583; in DuBois, $2.391; in Erie, $2.453; and in Warren, $2.646.

The latest EIA data registers gasoline demand at 8.6 million b/d for the week ending December 28 – the lowest level on record since February 2017. Despite record motor vehicle travel for the holiday, demand was down nearly 900,000 barrels, suggesting that demand this winter could be lower than expected.

Monday’s national gas price average is $2.24 and has declined for 12 weeks in a row. The national average is three-cents cheaper on the week, 20-cents cheaper than last month and 25-cents cheaper year-over-year.