PITTSBURGH — Gas prices are 11 cents higher in Western Pennsylvania this week at $3.598 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in Bradford is $3.635; Brookville, $3.588; DuBois, $3.512; Erie, $3.639; and in Warren, $3.675.

Blustery winter weather and geopolitical tensions are helping to drive the price of oil higher, which is in the low-$90s per barrel, nearly $30 more than in August. The recent cold weather in the U.S increased the demand for heating oil. Meanwhile, the concern that Russia will react to potential western sanctions by withholding crude oil from the already tight global market puts heavy upward pressure on prices. The national average for a gallon of gas has surged to $3.44, eight cents more than a week ago. Gas was last this expensive in 2014.