Pittsburgh, national gas prices continue seasonal decline

Average gas prices have come down for a second straight week, and many regions could see declines again this week, as a drop in demand is normally seen in the fall, an industry analyst said Monday.

In the Pittsburgh area, average prices fell 3.5 cents per gallon in the past week to $3.95, according to price-tracking service GasBuddy. The national average fell 9.3 cents per gallon and stands at $3.77.

Significant declines in the West and Great Lakes region are having “an oversized effect on the drop in the national average,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

“While gasoline prices have seen a large drop, diesel prices have been somewhat mixed, with prices heading higher in the Northeast as inventories drop to extremely tight levels ahead of the heating oil season,” he said.

The national average price of diesel rose 4 cents per gallon in the past week and stands at $5.30 per gallon.

According to AAA, Pennsylvania’s statewide average gasoline price is about $3.93. That’s down about 3 cents per gallon from last week, but up about 11 cents from a month ago.

County averages range from about $3.81 to about $4.03.

Averages in Pittsburgh-area counties reported by AAA:

• Allegheny: $3.96

• Armstrong: $3.97

• Beaver: $3.98

• Butler: $3.94

• Washington: $3.97

• Westmoreland: $3.95

GasBuddy reported prices in the Pittsburgh area ranging from $3.66 per gallon to $4.29, a difference of 63 cents per gallon. Statewide, prices ranged from $3.35 to $4.65, a difference of $1.30 per gallon.

Neighboring areas and their current prices according to GasBuddy:

• Akron: $3.47, down 20.4 cents per gallon from last week.

• Cleveland: $3.61, down 15.3 cents per gallon from last week.

• West Virginia: $3.51, down 2.4 cents per gallon from last week.

De Haan said the decline in gas prices is seasonal and should continue into the fall, and is unrelated to the coming election.

“Seasonality is king in driving prices, not the desires or hopes of politicians,” he said.