Average gas price in Pittsburgh area remains firmly above $2 a gallon

Gasoline prices continue to fall in the Pittsburgh area and across the nation, but the local average remains above $2 a gallon, the price-tracking service GasBuddy reported Monday.

The Pittsburgh area’s average per-gallon price stood at $2.23, down 3.6 cents from a week ago, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 731 stations. That’s 66.1 cents a gallon cheaper than a year ago.

Prices in the Pittsburgh area ranged from $1.75 to $2.89, compared with $1.59 to $2.89 statewide, according to GasBuddy.

The national average fell 5.7 cents a gallon in the past week to an average of $1.91, GasBuddy reported.

Average prices have fallen in every state over the past week as oil demand remains constrained because of the coronavirus pandemic, said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy.

DeHaan advised consumers to keep an eye on a potential meeting this week between major oil producers Russia and Saudi Arabia.

”If there is an oil production cut, it may establish a floor to oil prices, but motorists need not worry — if there is a cut, it is highly unlikely to cause a surge in gas prices, as retail prices have not come close to matching the declines in wholesale prices to this point,” DeHaan said.

Some surrounding areas are seeing significantly lower average prices than Pittsburgh’s, according to GasBuddy.

Prices are averaging $1.50 a gallon in Akron, $1.57 a gallon in Cleveland and $1.88 a gallon in West Virginia, the price-tracking service reported.