Pittsburgh-area drivers facing higher gas prices than other parts of state, nation
Despite average gas prices falling across the state and nation, drivers in the Pittsburgh area aren’t seeing as much relief at the pump.
The national average Monday was $3.10 per gallon, according to AAA. That’s down 4 cents from a week ago and about 46 cents from a month ago.
State averages range from $2.65 in Texas to $5.04 in Hawaii. California, typically known for its high gas prices, has an average of $4.36, AAA reported.
Pennsylvania’s average is about 50 cents per gallon higher, at $3.60, according to AAA. That’s about 8 cents less than a week ago and 38 cents less than a month ago.
Across the state, county averages range from $3.40 per gallon to $3.84, with the lowest averages in the eastern half of the state and the highest in the western half, according to AAA.
County averages in the Pittsburgh area, according to AAA:
• Allegheny: $3.70
• Armstrong: $3.73
• Beaver: $3.70
• Butler: $3.73
• Washington: $3.71
• Westmoreland: $3.75
The average in the Pittsburgh area is $3.69 per gallon, according to price-tracking service GasBuddy. That’s about 6 cents per gallon less than last week and about 24 cents less than a month ago.
Prices in the Pittsburgh area range from $3.19 per gallon to $3.99, a difference of 80 cents per gallon.
“While the national average declined for the seventh straight week, with oil prices rallying, it remains to be seen if we will manage another week of gasoline price declines,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “We’re still waiting for the national average to fall below $3 per gallon, something that is suddenly a bit less likely given the extreme cold weather, interrupting refining operations in the South, curbing gasoline production and potentially driving prices up slightly.”
Neighboring areas and their current gas prices, according to GasBuddy:
• Akron: $2.93, up 15 cents per gallon from last week.
• Cleveland: $2.93, up 9 cents per gallon from last week.
• West Virginia: $3.03, down 10 cents per gallon from last week.
The national average price of diesel has fallen about 9 cents per gallon in the past week and stands at $4.68, according to GasBuddy.
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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