By SARA FURLONG

s.furlong@bradfordera.com

The margin between local gas prices and the regional average widened ever so slightly this week — and in the Bradford area’s favor.

Local pump prices shed one half of one cent to $3.579 Monday, according to AAA East Central, while the regional average ticked up two cents to $3.620.

In Brookville it was $3.605, up 10.4 cents; DuBois clocked in at $3.509, up 2.9 cents; and Erie’s average is $3.586 this week, up 11.2 cents.

Warren’s average price remains $3.699.

Statewide, prices fell 1.1 cents per gallon during the last week to stand at $3.35 Monday, according to GasBuddy.

This week’s average is 13.5 cents per gallon more than a month ago but 46.4 cents less than a year ago.

Keystone State stations differed by as much as $1.30 per gallon, from $2.69 to $3.99.

Nationwide, drivers are paying 3.4 cents less per gallon this week at $3.10. Diesel also dipped, dropping 2.7 cents to $3.519 per gallon.

Gasoline is 1.8 cents less than last month and 54.6 cents less than last year.

AAA East Central reported the national average per kilowatt hour of electricity at a public EV charging station remained at 34 cents again this week.

AAA representatives said in a press release that ‘as spring break travel winds down, gas prices are following suit across much of the country.

Softer demand is fueling this downward trend, and with crude as low as

Gas… page A-8 it’s been in a few years, drivers could continue to see lower pump prices as summer approaches.”

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said, “The national average has seen its second straight weekly decline, with gas prices falling in over 40 states. However, some states have seen increases due to localized price cycling. With oil prices rallying over the past week, we may start to see the downward trend in gas prices begin to stall. So far, 2025 has been relatively calm at the pump for most Americans, who are currently spending over $200 million less per day on gasoline compared to this time last year.”

During this week in 2024, drivers across the country were paying an average of $3.64 per gallon. In Pennsylvania, it was even higher at $3.81.

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand increased slightly from 8.42 b/d last week to 8.46 b/d. Total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 236.0 million barrels to 234.0. Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 9.4 million barrels per day.

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate rose $1.14 to settle at $62.47 a barrel. The EIA reports that crude oil inventories increased by 0.5 million barrels from the previous week. At 442.9 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 6% below the five-year average for this time of year.

Motorists can find current gas prices nationwide, statewide and countywide at gasprices. aaa.com.