Pennsylvania bucks nation with gas prices continuing to fall

While the streak of declining gas prices came to an end nationally, average prices in Pennsylvania and the Pittsburgh area are continuing to fall.

AAA is reporting the national average at $3.73. That’s about 5 cents per gallon higher than a week ago, but 14 cents less than a month ago.

In Pennsylvania, the average came down by about 5 cents in the past week, from about $3.85 to $3.80, according to AAA. Pennsylvania’s current average is about 36 cents less than a month ago, when it was about $4.17 per gallon.

Pennsylvania recorded its highest average price, about $5.07, on June 12, according to AAA.

“One of the longest gas price declines on record has finally come to an end after 14 weeks, with gas prices shooting up in several regions amidst myriad refinery issues from the West Coast to the Great Lakes and in between,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at price tracking service GasBuddy.

De Haan said unexpected refinery disruptions, including fires and routine maintenance, have caused wholesale gas prices to spike in areas of the West Coast, Great Lakes and Plains states, where he said prices could rise another 25 to 75 cents per gallon or more until issues are worked out.

“In addition, as Tropical Storm Ian nears the U.S. coast, some refiners could see limited disruption,” he said. “Hopefully, disruptions will be very limited due to Ian, but there remain many factors driving prices both up and down across the country.”

Ian has since strengthened into a hurricane as it moves closer to Cuba and is expected to hit Florida.

GasBuddy reports the Pittsburgh-area average at $3.88, based on its survey of 731 stations. That’s down 3.3 cents per gallon from last week and about 27 cents less than a month ago, but about 56 cents higher than a year ago.

Pittsburgh-area prices range from $3.39 to $4.19, a difference of 80 cents per gallon, GasBuddy reported.

County averages in the Pittsburgh region, according to AAA:

• Allegheny: $3.90

• Armstrong: $3.96

• Beaver: $3.93

• Butler: $3.92

• Washington: $3.91

• Westmoreland: $3.86

Neighboring areas and their gas prices, according to GasBuddy:

• Akron: $3.62, up 32.5 cents from last week.

• Cleveland: $3.63, up 22.6 cents from last week.

• West Virginia: $3.42, down 7.6 cents from last week.