Gas prices set record highs in Pittsburgh and state

Pennsylvania and the Pittsburgh region have set record highs for gas prices, while the national average on Monday was only a fraction of a cent away from the record that was set in March.

According to AAA, the average for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in Pennsylvania on Monday was about $4.51. That’s about 16 cents higher than a week ago and about 28 cents more than a month ago.

For the Pittsburgh metro area, AAA reported the average at about $4.38. That’s about 4 cents more than a week ago and 14 cents higher than a month ago.

The current average in Pittsburgh is about 12 cents per gallon less than the statewide average, according to AAA. Prices are higher in the central and eastern portions of the state.

Price-tracking service Gas­Buddy was reporting prices in the Pittsburgh area ranging from $4.10 to $4.89, a difference of 79 cents per gallon. Statewide, prices ranged from $3.95 to $5.29, a difference of $1.34.

According to AAA, the national average on Monday was $4.328, just shy of the $4.331 record that was set on March 11.

AAA said the increase is mainly because of the high cost of crude oil, which was hovering near $100 a barrel last week and is closing in on $110.

“With the cost of oil accounting for more than half of the pump price, more expensive oil means more expensive gasoline,” AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross said. “These prices are creeping closer to those record high levels of early March.”

Cost of diesel sets record

GasBuddy also was reporting a steep increase in the national cost of diesel fuel, which it said increased by 22.6 cents per gallon in the past week to about $5.52, a record.

Oil prices rose last week after the European Union signaled its desire to sanction Russian oil, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy.

“In addition, U.S. petroleum inventories saw yet another weekly decline as we near the start of summer driving season,” De Haan said.

In addition to diesel being at a record high, De Haan said the difference between the price of gasoline and diesel is at a record $1.20 per gallon, beating the 98-cent difference from 2008.

“While motorists filling with gasoline have seen a slight rise in prices, diesel’s surge will be a double whammy as diesel prices will soon be passed along to retail channels, further pushing up the cost of goods,” he said.