Gas up 26 cents in Washington, as regional prices continue to rise
Washington no longer has the cheapest gas price in Western Pennsylvania. Not after this week’s increase.
The average cost of a gallon of unleaded self-serve in and around the city is $3.014, AAA East Central announced in its weekly report Monday afternoon. That is 26.4 cents up from $2.750 a week ago, and a ghastly 55.3 cents from $2.461 on Jan. 8.
Washington last week had the lowest figure among 22 Western Pennsylvania cities and towns monitored by AAA. It was second – behind New Castle – the previous two weeks. The city now ranks seventh.
Bradford now has the lowest average ($2.931), and Sharon ($2.936) the second-lowest. Brookville ($3.165) has the most expensive petrol. Only six towns are under $3.00.
Western Pennsylvania gas prices rose 12.3 cents this week to $3.042, which is 11.4 cents above the average a year ago. The regional cost has bumped up significantly in recent months.
Pennsylvania’s average rose again, by nine cents to $2.97. The Keystone State is part of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast region, where average prices are mostly higher than they were at this time last year.
Gasoline stocks in the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast fell by 3.2 million barrels this week, the largest decrease of any region nationwide. They stand at 60.2 million, the lowest level this year, but similar to where they were last April.
Prices continued to rise elsewhere, as the national average jumped by nearly 10 cents to $2.83. That is a 38-cent jump over the past month. The average in California hit $4.00, the highest average of any state and a price the Golden State hadn’t seen since July 2014.