Pittsburgh gas prices falling but remain higher than state, national averages

Gasoline prices are continuing to fall across the state and nation but remain stubbornly higher in the Pittsburgh region, according to AAA and GasBuddy.

AAA was reporting the national average at $4.68 per gallon Monday, down about 13 cents in one week and about 32 cents from a month ago.

The national average peaked at $5.02 on June 14.

“The national average has declined for 27 days straight, or four weeks, the longest decline in average gas prices since the pandemic started in 2020,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

“We may see the trend last a fifth week, as long as oil prices remain cooperative and don’t surge beyond $105 per barrel and as long as refinery production of gasoline remains strong.”

Pennsylvania’s average Monday was about $4.79, about 11 cents higher than the national average, according to AAA.

The state’s average has come down about 11 cents in one week and about 28 cents from a month ago. It peaked at $5.07 on June 12.

But Pittsburgh-area drivers are seeing slightly higher prices. According to GasBuddy, the average here is $4.85, about 6 cents higher than the state average and about 17 cents higher than the national average.

Prices in the Pittsburgh area are about 20 cents per gallon less than a month ago but $1.58 higher than a year ago. GasBuddy reported prices in the Pittsburgh area ranging from $4.53 to $5.19, a difference of 66 cents per gallon.

“Some areas will see more aggressive competition than others,” De Haan said.

“In due time, I expect more will come down, but some areas are just seeing the ‘status quo.’ No one wants to go down too quickly because (in) 2022 many stations have struggled while prices rise. Stations do far worse when prices are rising/high, and so many are ‘letting it ride.’ ”

With the dropping prices, De Haan said, Americans are paying $140 million less on gasoline every day than they did a month ago.

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“But we’re not completely out of the woods yet — we could also see a sharp reversal in the decline,” he said. “There remains risk of a spike in prices that could send us to new record levels in August, should any disruptions occur. It could be a wild ride, but for now, the plummet at the pump shall continue.”