Drop in oil prices brings first weekly decline in national average gas price this year
A sharp and sudden drop in the price of oil is the main reason behind the first weekly drop in the national average price of gasoline in 2023, an industry analyst said.
AAA reported the national average at $3.47 per gallon Monday. That’s about 4 cents less than a week ago, but about 18 cents more than a month ago and 3 cents more than a year ago.
The national average price of diesel also fell in the past week, down about 5 cents to $4.60 per gallon, according to GasBuddy.
“While the decline in both gasoline and diesel prices is terrific, it’s not unusual to see prices falling in February, which tends to be the month with some of the lowest gasoline prices of the year thanks to seasonally weak demand,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.
“However, especially for gasoline, high levels of coming maintenance and the eventual transition to summer gasoline could lead today’s declines to reverse down the road,” he said. “For now, motorists should enjoy the decline, but be wary, as we’re likely to eventually see increases again down the road.”
The average price in Pennsylvania also came down in the past week. According to AAA, the statewide average Monday was $3.76 per gallon, which is about 3 cents less than a week ago but 10 cents more than a month ago and 15 cents more than a year ago.
County averages across the state range from about $3.61 to $3.90 per gallon, with the lowest averages in the southeast. County averages in the Pittsburgh area, according to AAA:
• Allegheny: $3.84
• Armstrong: $3.82
• Beaver: $3.79
• Butler: $3.80
• Washington: $3.82
• Westmoreland: $3.85
The average in the region was $3.82 per gallon, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 731 stations. That’s 11 cents higher than a month ago and 25 cents higher than a year ago.
Prices in the Pittsburgh area range from $3.35 to $3.99 per gallon, a difference of 64 cents per gallon, according to GasBuddy.
Neighboring areas and their current gas prices, according to GasBuddy:
• Akron: $3.40, down 18 cents from last week.
• Cleveland: $3.45, down 12 cents from last week.
• West Virginia: $3.38, down 4 cents from last week.
Brian C. Rittmeyer is a TribLive reporter covering news in New Kensington, Arnold and Plum. A Pittsburgh native and graduate of Penn State University's Schreyer Honors College, Brian has been with the Trib since December 2000. He can be reached at brittmeyer@triblive.com.
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