- Pennsylvania's average price was $3.92 per gallon
- The Lehigh Valley checked in at $3.87 on average
- The long-range outlook is not a promising one for motorists
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Gas prices across the nation this week climbed to their highest level all year, and Pennsylvanians are feeling the pinch.
The average price for a gallon of gas in Pennsylvania is up almost 5.7 cents this week, at $3.92 per gallon, according to AAA.
In the Lehigh Valley, the average price was slightly lower at $3.87 a gallon. But that’s up more than 11 cents from the roughly $3.75 a gallon last week, according to AAA East Central.
A year ago, a gallon of gas in the Lehigh Valley cost $3.76 and the Pennsylvania average was just over $3.85 a gallon.
This week’s national average of $3.88 is 20 cents more than a year ago.
AAA says a surge in oil costs, about $90 per barrel, is fueling the increase. Gas demand actually decreased from 9.32 to 8.31 million barrels per day last week.
“Although gas demand has dropped amid increasing stocks, elevated oil prices have pushed pump prices higher.”AAA East Central
“Although gas demand has dropped amid increasing stocks, elevated oil prices have pushed pump prices higher,” AAA East Central said in its weekly report issued Tuesday.
The long-range outlook is less than rosy.
The travel group’s weekly update cited the International Energy Agency’s September oil market report, which predicts production costs from Saudi Arabia and other OPEC nations will lead to an oil supply shortfall this fall and winter.
The record-high national average for gas is $5.02 per gallon set in June 2022. Eleven states are averaging more than $4 per gallon, including California, where the average price is $5.69.
Here's information from AAA East Central:
Pennsylvania average:
Sept. 19, 2023 $3.921
Sept. 12, 2023 $3.864
Sept. 19, 2022 $3.853
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton average:
Sept. 19, 2023 $3.867
Sept. 12, 2023 $3.754
Sept. 19, 2022 $3.761
Philadelphia average:
Sept. 19, 2023 $3.959
Sept. 12, 2023 $3.908
Sept. 19, 2022 $3.784
