Andy Close
Gas prices in Western Pennsylvania are one cent lower this week at $3.326 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.
This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average $3.326
Average price during the week of August 16, 2021 $3.335
Average price during the week of August 24, 2020 $2.471
The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in various areas:
$3.292 Altoona
$3.333 Beaver
$3.359 Bradford
$3.352 Brookville
$3.345 Butler
$3.357 Clarion
$3.331 DuBois
$3.340 Erie
$3.305 Greensburg
$3.299 Indiana
$3.280 Jeannette
$3.307 Kittanning
$3.355 Latrobe
$3.344 Meadville
$3.367 Mercer
$3.298 New Castle
$3.283 New Kensington
$3.359 Oil City
$3.335 Pittsburgh
$3.326 Sharon
$3.289 Uniontown
$3.359 Warren
$3.286 Washington
Trend Analysis:
Crude oil prices saw a significant decline of $5 per barrel on the week, down to $62.32 per barrel at Friday’s close. Prices are declining as market concerns grow that crude demand will decline as coronavirus infections increase across the globe. The downward crude price trend could spell good news for motorists.
Crude oil prices saw not only a dramatic drop on the week, but the price per barrel is at the cheapest in three months. If this downward trend continues and less expensive prices are sustained, Americans can expect to see relief at the pump in the near future.
At $3.16, today’s national average is two cents cheaper than last week, but 98 cents more than a year ago and 56 cents more than two years ago. All eyes are now on gasoline demand, which has declined for three straight weeks. The Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) latest reading puts demand at 9.3 million barrels per day. That is a healthy pandemic demand reading, but still about 6% below the same week in August 2019. The softer demand readings have pushed gasoline stock levels over 228 million barrels.
Motorists can find current gas prices nationwide, statewide, and countywide at GasPrices.AAA.com.
