Andy Close
Gas prices in Western Pennsylvania are six cents higher this week at $3.159 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.
This week’s average prices: Western Pennsylvania Average $3.159
Average price during the week of May 10, 2021 $3.095
Average price during the week of May 18, 2020 $2.265
The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in various areas:
$3.103 Altoona
$3.152 Beaver
$3.137 Bradford
$3.202 Brookville
$3.176 Butler
$3.176 Clarion
$3.186 DuBois
$3.183 Erie
$3.115 Greensburg
$3.127 Indiana
$3.195 Jeannette
$3.103 Kittanning
$3.144 Latrobe
$3.191 Meadville
$3.184 Mercer
$3.133 New Castle
$3.167 New Kensington
$3.199 Oil City
$3.176 Pittsburgh
$3.174 Sharon
$3.160 Uniontown
$3.103 Warren
$3.162 Washington
Trend Analysis:
The national gas price average is the most expensive in six years at $3.04. Gas prices were expected to flirt with $3/gallon leading up to Memorial Day weekend, but last week’s shutdown of the Colonial Pipeline caused prices to spike weeks ahead of the holiday.
On the week, the national average jumped eight cents. States like Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, where the gasoline supply was strained due to the pipeline shutdown, saw prices jump as much as 21 cents in matter of days. With the pipeline back in operation and supply being restored, gas prices in these states and the national average have stabilized since the end of last week.
AAA forecasts 34 million Americans to take a road trip 50 miles or more from home from May 27 to May 31 to celebrate the unofficial kickoff to summer. That is a 52% increase compared to last summer, but nearly 9% below pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Regardless, motorists will be met with the most expensive gas prices since 2014.
Crude oil prices and gasoline demand will be two large factors in determining how expensive gas prices will be. At the close of Friday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate increased by $1.55 to settle at $65.37. Market optimism that crude demand will recover, despite an uptick in coronavirus infection rates in some countries, helped to lift prices last week. Prices could continue to climb this week if the market remains optimistic as vaccines continue to roll out.
Motorists can find current gas prices nationwide, statewide, and countywide at GasPrices.AAA.com.
