Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh area on down side of mixed week for gas prices

The picture of gas prices is mixed this week, with the average rising nationally while coming down in the Pittsburgh area and across the state.

“We’ve seen somewhat of a mixed week at the pump with some states seeing gasoline prices rise, while others have stabilized for the time being,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

According to AAA, the national average increased about 3 cents per gallon in the past week, from $3.28 to about $3.31. That’s about 13 cents higher than a month ago and roughly the same as a year ago.

Conversely in Pennsylvania, the average fell about 2 cents per gallon in the past week, from about $3.65 to $3.63, according to AAA. That’s about 7 cents less than a month ago but 11 cents higher than a year ago.

Across the state, county averages range from $3.48 to $3.80 per gallon, with the lowest averages in the east, AAA reported.

County averages in the Pittsburgh area, according to AAA:

• Allegheny: $3.69

• Armstrong: $3.77

• Beaver: $3.71

• Butler: $3.71

• Washington: $3.67

• Westmoreland: 3.73

Price-tracking service GasBuddy reported the average in the Pittsburgh area at $3.68 per gallon Monday, based on its survey of 731 stations. That’s 2.4 cents per gallon less than last week and 8.8 cents less than a month ago, but 17.7 cents higher than a year ago.

Pittsburgh-area prices range from $3.26 per gallon up to $4.29, a difference of $1.03, GasBuddy reports.

Neighboring areas and their current gas prices, according to GasBuddy:

• Akron: $3.34 per gallon, down 6.4 cents from last week.

• Cleveland: $3.38 per gallon, up 0.9 cents from last week.

• West Virginia: $3.21 per gallon, up 3.7 cents from last week.

De Haan said good news of late has been a continued decline in the national average price of diesel, which fell 7.2 cents in the past week to $4.56 per gallon.

“Oil prices have seen a bit of a rally, finishing last week at nearly $80 per barrel again as Chinese demand starts to jump as expected, but with covid cases and deaths now also surging in China, the jump in demand could be short-lived,” De Haan said.

“Gas prices may nudge up slightly in the week ahead in some areas, while others could hold flat. The window on price drops, however, appears to be coming up on the horizon as we get closer to what’s likely to be a significant refinery maintenance period ahead of summer.”