By SARA FURLONG

s.furlong@bradfordera.com

Gas prices decreased by the better part of a dime throughout the region, while the average cost in Bradford and Warren could manage just six-tenths and two-tenths of 1 cent, respectively.

Brookville saw a decrease of 8.5 cents to $3.228 per gallon this week, while prices fell 7.1 cents in DuBois to $3.235 and 8.9 cents in Erie to $3.225.

Bradford checked in at $3.604 Monday and Warren at $3.697, according to AAA East Central.

Throughout Western Pennsylvania, AAA reports gas prices are 6 cents lower this week at $3.392 per gallon.

Statewide, gasoline is down 5 cents per gallon to rest at $3.23 this week. GasBuddy’s survey of 5,269 stations in the commonwealth shows the current average is 9.9 cents less than last month and 49 cents less than last year. The cheapest station was selling gasoline for $2.81 and the priciest still for $4.39, a difference of $1.58 per gallon.

Across the U.S. gas prices decreased 4 cents to average $3.09 Monday, 6.9 cents less than this week in May and 41 cents less than this week in 2024, according to GasBuddy.

For diesel, U.S. motorists will pay an average of $3.465, down 1.1 cents from last week.

As of Monday, local crude oil purchasers increased their price by $1.73 to $58.52 per barrel and, while AAA reports fuel prices are expected to remain “on the lower side compared to last summer,” weather could be a wild card in the equation.

“The Atlantic hurricane season began Sunday, and NOAA predicts a 60% chance of an above-normal season,” AAA representatives said in a press release. “Storms along the Gulf Coast can affect oil refineries and disrupt fuel deliveries, leading to temporary increases in gas prices.”

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, agreed. “While gasoline inventories remain somewhat tight heading into the summer, I’m optimistic that increased refinery output could pave the way for further price declines. That said, any unexpected outages could still cause short-term price bumps.’

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate increased 95 cents to settle at $61.84 a barrel. The EIA reports that crude oil inventories decreased by 2.8 million barrels from the previous week. At 440.4 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 6% below the five-year average for this time of year.

Motorists can find current gas prices nationwide, statewide and countywide at gasprices. aaa.com.