Gas prices fall for 11th week; some Pa. counties reach $4 mark

Average gas prices in a few Northeastern Pennsylvania counties have fallen to or just below $4 per gallon as the streak of dropping gas prices marks its 11th week.

The average price in Pennsylvania is now about $4.14, down 8 cents from last week and 35 cents from a month ago, according to AAA. The state recorded its highest average, $5.07, on June 12.

Statewide, average prices range from $3.99 to $4.33. The lowest averages, $3.99 to $4, are seen in Carbon, Northampton and Wyoming counties, AAA reported.

Average prices in Pittsburgh-area counties as reported by AAA:

• Allegheny: $4.14

• Armstrong: $4.25

• Beaver: $4.20

• Butler: $4.20

• Washington: $4.15

• Westmoreland: $4.12

Price tracking service GasBuddy on Monday reported the Pittsburgh-area average at $4.12 per gallon, based on its survey of 731 stations. That’s about 38 cents less than a month ago, but about 82 cents higher than a year ago.

Pittsburgh-area prices range from $3.39 to $5.09, a difference of $1.70 per gallon, according to GasBuddy.

AAA was reporting the national average at $3.85 on Monday. That’s about 5 cents less than a week ago and about 41 cents less than a month ago. The national average peaked at about $5.02 on June 14.

“Gas prices are now $1.20 per gallon lower than mid-June with Americans spending $450 million less on gasoline every day as a result,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “Some issues have developed that we’re keeping a close eye on, including the shut down of the largest refinery in the Midwest. While that refinery may get back online sooner rather than later, it’s not impossible that down the road the situation could impact prices in the region.”

For the rest of the country, De Haan said prices will continue to moderate.

“This is, of course, subject to hurricane season, and it does appear that the tropics are starting to see some activity, so there’s no guarantee the decline will continue,” he said.

Neighboring areas and their current prices compared with the past week, according to GasBuddy:

• Akron: $3.45, down 14 cents.

• Cleveland: $3.54, down 11 cents.

• West Virginia: $3.77, down 9 cents.

The national average price of diesel increased about 7 cents in the past week and stands at $5.04 per gallon, according to GasBuddy.