Price went up, but Washington has cheapest gas in the region
Motorists should be thankful if they get a tankful in Washington. Gasoline isn’t cheaper anywhere else in this part of the state.
The average cost of a gallon of unleaded self-serve here is $2.528, AAA East Central reported Monday afternoon. That is the lowest price this week among 22 Western Pennsylvania cities and towns listed by the association. New Castle ($2.537) was a close runner-up.
Washington’s price is 4.8 cents higher than it was last week, but the increase is in line with what happened elsewhere across the region. The average there rose 4.6 cents, to $2.641 – which is 11.3 cents higher than it is in Washington.
Western Pennsylvania also absorbed an 8.3-cent jump in petrol a week ago, meaning the price has gone up 12.9 cents over the fortnight. The regional figure of $2.641, however, is 20.9 cents a gallon less than what it was a year ago.
Pennsylvania’s average rose five more cents this week to $2.61, as most states in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast region realized increases. Mid-Atlantic/Northeast gasoline stocks nosedived for a second straight week, by nearly 2 million barrels to 67.5 million, according to the Energy Information Administration.
Washington and New Castle were two of five cities and towns in Western Pennsylvania with averages under $2.60 per gallon. The others are Butler ($2.567), Sharon ($2.577) and Latrobe ($2.586).
Bradford ($2.755) has the highest price, breaking the stranglehold Warren had on that dubious designation. Warren, which had the most expensive figure for at least five weeks in a row, dropped a notch at $2.703.
Averages increased in more than 40 states this week, bumping the U.S. figure to $2.39, an eight-cent increase.