Average gas prices in Pittsburgh area remain over $2 a gallon

Pennsylvania is among a dozen states where average gasoline prices remain over $2 a gallon, despite nine straight weeks of declines.

Pennsylvania’s statewide average is about $2.03 a gallon, according to the price-tracking service GasBuddy.

The average price is slightly higher in the Pittsburgh area, at $2.15 a gallon, GasBuddy’s survey of 731 area stations shows. That’s 2.9 cents a gallon less than last week, 13.4 cents less than a month ago and 95.2 cents less than a year ago.

The national average is $1.74, down 4.4 cents a gallon in the last week.

Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, attributed Pennsylvania’s higher average price to its gas tax.

Pennsylvania’s tax of 58.7 cents a gallon is second only to California, which assesses 60.6 cents a gallon, according to the American Petroleum Institute.

“In addition, the national average is being driven down by ultra-low prices in the Great Lakes region,” DeHaan said.

States with the lowest average price on Monday were Wisconsin, about $1.20; Oklahoma, $1.35; and Ohio, about $1.40. The highest were Hawaii, $3.01; California, about $2.74 ; and Washington, about $2.47.

“Prices eventually will fall under $2 in Pittsburgh,” DeHaan said. “It will take a couple more weeks to get there.”

“Gasoline prices will likely remain subdued until meaningful demand for petroleum returns, and that may not be for weeks or perhaps longer,” DeHaan said.

Neighboring areas and their current average gas prices:

• Akron — $1.35, down 3.5 cents per gallon from last week;

• Cleveland — $1.39, down 3.1 cents per gallon from last week;

• West Virginia — $1.74, down 2 cents per gallon from last week.