PITTSBURGH — Gas prices in Western Pennsylvania are stable this week at $3.002 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.
The average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in Bradford was $3.102; Brookville, $2.917; DuBois, $2.974; Erie, $3.066; and Warren, $3.099.
Despite gasoline demand mostly increasing this month, the national gas price average has hovered steadily around $2.87. This, despite demand reaching its highest measurement in more than a year—8.9 million barrels-per-day for the week ending April 9.
Refinery utilization is nearly back to pre-pandemic levels, and with gasoline stocks building in the last month amid lower crude oil prices, motorists are benefitting from mostly flat gas prices. However, crude prices are on the rise this week, which could translate to increases at the pump by the end of April.
At 85%, refinery operations are at their fullest capacity since the week of March 23, 2020, according to Energy Information Administration (EIA) data. Should this trend continue, it could help offset increases in demand and help the national average stay under $3/gallon.
On the week, the majority of states saw little fluctuation at the pump: 27 state averages held steady while another 16 saw pump prices increase or decrease by only one or two cents.
Today’s national average is $2.87. Compared to a year ago, gas prices are very expensive as mid-April 2020 was prime quarantine time across the country. While the national gas price average is $1.05 more than last year, it is on par with averages from April 2019.
