PITTSBURGH — Ahead of the Labor Day holiday weekend, the average price of gasoline across Western Pennsylvania is four cents cheaper this week at $2.772 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.
Gas prices are cheaper across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states by as much as a nickel (Pennsylvania, -3 cents). Motorists in the region will pay significantly lower prices compared to this time last year. Heading into Labor Day weekend last year, state gas price averages ranged from $2.59 — $3.03, whereas this year they range from $2.29 — $2.79.
Despite a 1% dip in regional refinery utilization, gasoline stocks built by 781,000 barrels, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Even though utilization continues to fall, gasoline inventory continues to move upward, as imports have increased to offset the closure of the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery.
The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in Bradford is $2.898; in Brookville, $2.825; in DuBois, $2.678; in Erie, $2.845; and in Warren, $2.903.
At $2.59, the national gas price average is on track to be potentially the cheapest Labor Day weekend average in three years. Today’s average is already nearly a quarter cheaper than during last year’s holiday ($2.83) and four cents cheaper than 2017’s Labor Day ($2.63). For Americans who bookend summer with road trips, they will find that two-thirds of all states have gas price averages that are nearly a quarter cheaper than last year. While some states may see gas prices increase by a few pennies ahead of the holiday weekend, any moves will likely be short-term.
