Pa. Gas Prices Rise; National Average Moves Upward

The average price of gasoline across Western Pennsylvania is two cents higher this week at $2.504 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

This week’s average prices

Western Pennsylvania Average – $2.504

Average price during the week of Nov. 9, 2020 – $2.482

Average price during the week of Nov. 18, 2019 – $2.770

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

$2.590 Altoona

$2.596 Beaver

$2.579 Bradford

$2.516 Brookville

$2.419 Butler

$2.496 Clarion

$2.398 DuBois

$2.571 Erie

$2.398 Greensburg

$2.595 Indiana

$2.348 Jeannette

$2.581 Kittanning

$2.513 Latrobe

$2.583 Meadville

$2.581 Mercer

$2.218 New Castle

$2.589 New Ken.

$2.599 Oil City

$2.495 Pittsburgh

$2.521 Sharon

$2.558 Uniontown

$2.599 Warren

$2.252 Washington

Trend Analysis

Motorists are paying more to fill up than last Monday in nearly 30 states, with most paying just a few pennies more. On the week, South Carolina (+8 cents) saw the largest increase followed by these states who each had a six cent increase: Michigan, New Mexico, Indiana, Delaware, and Minnesota.

With the majority of states seeing increases, the national gas price average pushed a penny more expensive. The overall weekly increases seen across the country are likely a reaction to the latest Energy Information Administration’s report showing increased demand (from 8.3 million barrels per day (b/d) to 8.7 million b/d, while supply dwindled by 2.3 million barrels. This could be a short-lived trend, however, as many states are seeing rising COVID-19 case numbers, which could lead to lower demand.

Despite the weekly increase, gas prices remain cheap both compared to last month (-5 cents) and last year.

At the close of Friday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate decreased by 99 cents to settle at $40.13. Domestic crude prices decreased at the end of the day due to rising coronavirus infections worldwide.

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

Editor’s Note: AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 76 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members.