Pittsburgh, national gas prices continue fall

Gas prices have continued to fall in the Pittsburgh region and across the nation, according to the price-tracking website GasBuddy.com.

“For a surprising fifth straight week, the national average has declined, ushering in lower gas prices to every state and providing relief to consumers who’ve watched the stock market tank, but for the same reason oil prices have plunged,” said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy.

Gas prices in the Pittsburgh region have fallen 3.7 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.86, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 731 stations. That’s 12.1 cents per gallon lower than a month ago, and 26 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

Nationally, the average price of gasoline has fallen 3.5 cents per gallon to an average of $2.60. That’s down 17 cents per gallon from a month ago, and 22.2 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

“While gasoline demand remains healthy, continued worry over U.S. and China relations clouds energy markets and has weighed significantly on oil prices,” DeHaan said. “As the summer draws to a close, the declines may slow down as new signs from both the U.S. and China show a less aggressive tone regarding trade, but we’ll have to see if that materializes into something concrete in the weeks ahead.”