With gasoline prices falling for a 14th consecutive week, the drop in the national average has surpassed the record decline of 2018 and is now the longest downward streak since 2015, an industry analyst said Monday.
According to AAA, the national average is now about $3.68, down 4 cents from last week and 24 cents from last month.
“While some states continue to see gas prices trend higher, the majority have continued to decline. However, this week could change the downward trend,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis with price tracking service GasBuddy.
“With some issues arising in Plains and Great Lakes states as the transition to winter gasoline begins, I think we have the best potential to see the weekly trend of falling prices snapped,” De Haan said. “West Coast states also continue to see increases as unexpected refinery issues continue to percolate, preventing a downward move.”
In Pennsylvania, the average on Monday was about $3.85, according to AAA. That’s down about 7 cents from last week and 39 cents from a month ago.
Statewide, average prices range from a low of about $3.70 in Carbon County in eastern Pennsylvania up to $4 in Forest County, AAA reported.
Average prices in Pittsburgh area counties, according to AAA:
• Allegheny: $3.93
• Armstrong: $3.96
• Beaver: $3.97
• Butler: $3.95
• Washington: $3.95
• Westmoreland: $3.89
In the Pittsburgh area, GasBuddy reported that average gasoline prices fell 5.5 cents per gallon in the last week to an average of $3.91, based on its survey of 731 stations. That’s about 31cents less than a month ago, but 58 cents more than a year ago.
Prices in the Pittsburgh area range from $3.39 up to $4.29, a difference of 90 cents per gallon, according to GasBuddy price reports.
Neighboring areas and their current gas prices, according to GasBuddy:
• Akron: $3.30, down 16 cents from last week.
• Cleveland: $3.41, down 12 cents from last week.
• West Virginia: $3.50, down 11 cents from last week.
The national average price of diesel stands at $4.93 per gallon, down 7 cents in the last week, according to GasBuddy.
