Motorists in the mid-Atlantic and northeastern United States could shortly see a price spike of as much as 20 to 50 cents per gallon as stations move to summer blends.

Further attacks in the Middle East could also push oil prices higher.

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said, “With Iran’s attack on Israel over the weekend, the stakes couldn’t have been higher for a major potential impact on oil and gasoline prices. With the attacks largely thwarted and mostly unsuccessful … the risk to crude oil has diminished. If Israel, which has promised to respond with further attacks, does press on, it could certainly still push oil prices higher. “However, motorists can expect other factors to influence what they’re paying at the pump, including the leap to summer gasoline. On the West Coast, price increases should finally slow, but the national average will likely climb again in the coming week,” De Haan said.

Monday’s national average price for regular gasoline, according to AAA East Central, is $3.63 — an increase of 4 cents from last week and 20 cents from a month ago, but still 3 cents lower than last year.

The national average price of diesel is down 1.2 cents in the last week and stands at $4.01 per gallon.

AAA East Central said the average price in Western Pennsylvania was up 2 cents per gallon to $3.853, while in Bradford, it was $3.897; in Brookville, $3.772; in DuBois, $3.838; in Erie, $3.878; and in Warren, $3.900.

Across the commonwealth, the average price rose 3.4 cents during the last week, averaging $3.71 per gallon Monday. That’s 15.4 cents higher than a month ago, but still 3.8 cents lower than a year ago.

According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Pennsylvania was priced at $3.22 per gallon Sunday while the most expensive was $4.59 per gallon, a difference of $1.37.

On April 15 during the last 10 years, 2022 recorded the highest price per gallon at $4.15 in Pennsylvania and $4.07 nationally, while 2020 clocked the lowest at $2.05 and $1.81.