Gas Prices End 2020 Much Lower than 2019

The average price of gasoline across Western Pennsylvania is steady this week at $2.475 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

As has been the case throughout much of the year, this is roughly 40 cents cheaper than this time last year.

This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average                  $2.475
Average price during the week of December 21, 2020                              $2.474
Average price during the week of December 30, 2019                              $2.863

The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in various areas:      

$2.621      Altoona
$2.455      Beaver
$2.629      Bradford
$2.458      Brookville
$2.361      Butler
$2.444      Clarion
$2.467      DuBois
$2.591      Erie
$2.340      Greensburg
$2.581      Indiana
$2.329      Jeannette
$2.540      Kittanning
$2.282      Latrobe
$2.627      Meadville
$2.599      Mercer
$2.184      New Castle
$2.590      New Kensington
$2.699      Oil City
$2.497      Pittsburgh
$2.247      Sharon
$2.480      Uniontown
$2.619      Warren
$2.279      Washington

Trend Analysis:
Increasing crude oil prices have led to upward movement at the pump across much of the country. Today’s national average ($2.25) is three cents more than last week, 13 cents more than last month, but 32 cents cheaper than last year. Motorists can expect gas prices to rise in the coming week, but they will still be cheaper than at the end of 2019.

The Energy Information Administration measures weekly gasoline demand at 8 million b/d. While low demand would typically translate to cheaper prices, crude oil is at its most expensive since February (roughly $48/barrel).

Crude prices increased last due in part to rising market optimism that coronavirus vaccines will help crude oil demand recover in 2021. However, as coronavirus infection rates continue to climb, crude price gains could be capped for now.

Motorists can find current gas prices nationwide, statewide, and countywide at GasPrices.AAA.com.

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 73 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members.  News releases are available at news.eastcentral.aaa.com.  Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.