Gas prices trending upward as annual change to summer blends is underway

The average gasoline price in the Pittsburgh area came down slightly in the past week while the national average increased as the transition to summer gas has started across the entire country, an industry analyst said Monday.

Pittsburgh’s average was $3.72 per gallon, according to price-tracking service GasBuddy and its survey of 731 stations in the area. That’s about 1 cent less than a week ago, 9 cents less than a month ago and 49 cents less than a year ago.

AAA reports the national average at about $3.41 per gallon. That’s about 4 cents more than a week ago but 6 cents less than a month ago and 60 cents less than a year ago.

The higher cost of various summer blends “is being passed along to motorists, as we see every year ahead of the summer driving season,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “Some regions are moving to the required summer gasoline in different steps than others, and the fragmentation of required blends absolutely plays a role in these price increases.

“Logistical challenges in making the transition during a time when refiners are also doing maintenance work can create hotspots and lead to noticeable jumps in prices during the spring,” he said. “While we may not see weekly increases, the overall trend will remain upward through much of the spring. By Memorial Day, most of the nation will be transitioned to their respective required blend of fuel, and gas prices could ease, but a $4 per gallon national average remains possible by then.”

According to AAA, Pennsylvania’s statewide average is about $3.62 per gallon. That’s 1 cent less than a week ago, about 15 cents less than a month ago and 56 cents less than a year ago.

Statewide, county averages range from $3.41 up to $3.85 per gallon, according to AAA. County averages in the Pittsburgh area:

• Allegheny: $3.74

• Armstrong: $3.77

• Beaver: $3.70

• Butler: $3.73

• Washington: $3.72

• Westmoreland: $3.77

According to GasBuddy, Pittsburgh area prices ranged from $3.39 up to $3.99 per gallon, a difference of 60 cents per gallon. Statewide, prices ranged from $3 up to $4.15 per gallon, a difference of $1.15 per gallon.

Neighboring areas and their current gas prices:

• Akron: $3.36, up 33 cents per gallon from last week.

• Cleveland: $3.39, up 23 cents per gallon from last week.

• West Virginia: $3.25, up 2 cents per gallon from last week.

The national average price of diesel has fallen about 5 cents in the past week to $4.34 per gallon, according to GasBuddy.