Jump in oil prices driving gas price hike in Pittsburgh area, analyst says

The average gasoline price in the Pittsburgh area increased more than 9 cents per gallon in the past week, according to price-tracking service GasBuddy.

The average on Monday stood at $3.71 per gallon, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 731 stations in the area. That’s 9.2 cents more than last week and 6.8 cents more than a month ago, but about 91 cents less than a year ago.

Pittsburgh-area prices range from $3.39 to $3.99 per gallon, a difference of 60 cents, according to GasBuddy.

“We’ve seen oil prices making a noticeable jump and this morning sit at our highest since late April,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “In addition, some areas of the country have seen some heat-related refinery disruptions that have brought collective U.S. gasoline supplies to their lowest July level since 2015. Things are very tight, and one major hurricane heading toward Louisiana or Texas could provide a huge blow on top of this.”

AAA reported the national average Monday at $3.60 per gallon. That’s about 3 cents more than a week ago and 2 cents more than a month ago, but about 77 cents less than a year ago.

State averages range from about $3.07 per gallon in Mississippi to $4.93 in Washington state, according to AAA.

AAA also reported Pennsylvania’s statewide average at $3.71 per gallon, with county averages ranging from about $3.55 to $3.79.

County averages in the Pittsburgh area, according to AAA:

• Allegheny: $3.72

• Armstrong: $3.69

• Beaver: $3.72

• Butler: $3.72

• Washington: $3.72

• Westmoreland: $3.72

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

• Akron: $3.25, down 10 cents from last week.

• Cleveland: $3.27, down 6 cents from last week.

• West Virginia: $3.34, down about 1 cent from last week.

The national average price of diesel stands at $3.83 per gallon, up about 3 cents in the past week, GasBuddy reported.