Pennsylvania average gas price down 28% from record high set 1 year ago

One year ago today, drivers in Pennsylvania were paying about $1.42 per gallon more for gas than they are now.

On June 12, 2022, Pennsylvania recorded what remains its highest average price for regular unleaded gasoline — $5.07 per gallon, according to AAA. Today, the statewide average is $3.65, about 28% less.

The national average peaked at $5.02 a couple of days later, on June 14, according to AAA. Today’s national average, about $3.59, also is about $1.42 less than that record-setting peak.

The price surge was blamed on U.S. gasoline inventories falling on a global decline in refining capacity because of the covid pandemic and accelerated demand going into the summer, and the price of oil spiking because of Russia’s war on Ukraine and the impact of sanctions.

A year later, increasing demand for gasoline is causing prices to rise in some areas of the nation, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

“We’ve seen some hefty gas price increases in several states in the Great Lakes and also in Florida. These areas saw prices jump up in line with behaviors that see such jumps every couple of weeks,” he said. “Exacerbating these routine jumps was government data that showed the third straight week with U.S. gasoline demand over the critical 9-million-barrel-per-day mark, putting upward pressure on average prices in other areas as well.”

According to AAA, Pennsylvania’s current $3.65 average is nearly unchanged from a week ago and a month ago, only 1 or 2 cents less, respectively. Across the state, county averages range from about $3.51 to $3.80 per gallon.

County averages in the Pittsburgh area:

• Allegheny: $3.69

• Armstrong: $3.73

• Beaver: $3.71

• Butler: $3.63

• Washington: $3.68

• Westmoreland: $3.69

GasBuddy reported Monday’s average in the Pittsburgh area at $3.67 per gallon, based on its survey of 731 stations. That’s about 10 cents per gallon less than a month ago and about $1.38 less than a year ago.

Prices in the Pittsburgh area range from $3.05 to $3.99 per gallon, a difference of 94 cents, according to GasBuddy.

Neighboring areas and their current gas prices, as reported by GasBuddy:

• Akron: $3.62, up 26 cents from last week.

• Cleveland: $3.61, up 20 cents from last week.

• West Virginia: $3.40, down about 1 cent from last week.

The national average price of diesel is about $3.87 per gallon, down about 2 cents from last week and its lowest price since early 2022, according to GasBuddy.