Sunday, July 27, 2025, 6:11AM | 
MENU
Advertisement
Gas prices in the Pittsburgh region dropped slightly in the past week.
1
MORE

Gasoline price spike cools off in Pittsburgh

Stephan Savoia/Associated Press

Gasoline price spike cools off in Pittsburgh

Rising retail gasoline prices in the Pittsburgh region eased in the last week, dropping 2 cents per gallon, according to GasBuddy.com, a price-tracking website. 

Average pump prices in the Pittsburgh region sit around $2.63 a gallon this morning, according to GasBuddy’s survey of more than 700 stations in southwestern Pennsylvania.

Rising oil prices, coupled with a higher state fuel tax, have pushed up the price of gasoline for six consecutive weeks in the region by 13 cents in the last week, a rare winter spike. The increase in prices this time of year is highly unusual: Over the past four years, U.S. gasoline prices declined an average of 15 cents per gallon in December and more in January as demand drops, GasBuddy analysts have said.

Advertisement

But gasoline is up following an international agreement brokered on Nov. 30 by major oil producers — members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, as well as countries outside of that group — to limit production. The agreement aims to alleviate a global oversupply that has weighed down prices for more than two years.

Gas prices continued to cool this week in the Pittsburgh region.
Daniel Moore
Pittsburgh-area gasoline prices fall again to $2.62 a gallon

Since the agreement, global crude oil prices jumped by nearly 25 percent and peaked at $58 a barrel last week, the highest mark since the summer months of 2015. 

But since, weak demand for oil and some skepticism surrounding the deal have cooled off prices, which hover around $55 a barrel this morning. 

Meanwhile, the state tax on wholesale motor fuels increased by 8 cents for gasoline and by nearly 11 cents for diesel fuel on Jan. 1. Those extra costs are likely passed on to retail customers at the pump.

Advertisement

While analysts believe gasoline prices will hold steady throughout the winter months, they have a less optimistic view for when the weather warms up.

“For the first time since November, the national average price for gasoline has fallen over the last week, helped by weak demand and rising gasoline inventories,” said Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy. However, motorists shouldn't expect the trend to last long. After the sweetness of Valentine's Day roses and chocolates is gone, they will be in store for a jump at the pump.”

Including the recent increases, Pittsburgh-area gasoline prices are still comparable or even lower from years before. Today’s averages are 24 cents higher than this time in 2015, 90 cents lower than in 2014, and 88 cents lower than in 2013.

Daniel Moore: dmoore@post-gazette.com, 412-263-2743 and Twitter @PGdanielmoore.

First Published: January 16, 2017, 4:03 p.m.

RELATED
SHOW COMMENTS (0)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
A huge Canadian flag carried by a crowd in Montreal in 1995, before a referendum on Quecec’s independence. Dennis Jett suggests Pennsylvania do the same in reverse.
1
opinion
Dennis Jett: Pennsylvania should become part of Canada
New cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5) gets into position prior to a play during practice on the first day of Steelers Training Camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe Thursday, July 24, 2025.
2
sports
Steelers training camp observations: Jalen Ramsey-led defense comes out 'aggressive and angry'
There is a large covered porch at the front of the house at 115 Forest Hills Road in Forest Hills.
3
life
Buying Here: Forest Hills home in its own 'mini-forest' listed for $425,000
Several houses are shown along N. Dallas Avenue near Penn Avenue in Point Breeze with “For Sale” signs in the front yard, Friday, March 21, 2025.
4
business
A cooling market and patient buyers are causing many Pittsburgh home sellers to cut their prices
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo.
5
sports
Off The Bat: Mitch Keller's Pirates tenure wasn't supposed to go like this
Gas prices in the Pittsburgh region dropped slightly in the past week.  (Stephan Savoia/Associated Press)
Stephan Savoia/Associated Press
Advertisement
LATEST powersource
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story