Gas prices at most Meadville outlets shot up 27 cents per gallon over the past week to about $3.50.
Prices in the area outpaced the rise of 4.5 cents per gallon across the state and were in contrast to the 3-cent decrease nationally, according to GasBuddy.com.
Average gasoline prices in Pennsylvania were at $3.26 Monday, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 5,269 stations in the state. Prices in Pennsylvania are 2 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and 23.6 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. According to reports, the station in Pennsylvania with the cheapest gas had it priced at $2.59 while the most expensive was $3.99.
The national average price of gasoline fell 3.1 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.97. The national average is down 8.7 cents per gallon from a month ago and 17.7 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.
“The national average has finally fallen below $3 per gallon, and it couldn’t come at a better time for motorists with the holidays upon us. One would need to count over 1,300 days since we’ve seen the national average this low, with the affordability of gasoline at its lowest non-COVID level since 2015,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “With average gas prices in 35 states and nearly 110,000 stations below $3 per gallon, Americans are putting in just 5.44 minutes of work to buy a gallon, the fewest minutes of work needed (excluding the pandemic) since 2015, when Americans needed to do just 5.25 minutes of work to buy a gallon. The good news is that we’ll likely continue to see additional downward pressure on gas prices, with the national average potentially falling another 10 to 15 cents by Christmas.”
The hike in the Meadville area would cost a consumer an extra $4 per fillup for a 15-gallon tank.
Prices from around the region:
• Andover, Ohio: Average price is $2.75 per gallon.
• Ashtabula, Ohio: Prices as low as $2.79 per gallon.
• Conneaut Lake: Average price is $3.49 per gallon.
• Edinboro: Average price is $3.49 per gallon.
• Erie: Average price is $3.45 per gallon, with prices as low as $3.11.
• Mercer: Average price is $3.46 per gallon.
• New Castle: Average price is $3.31 per gallon.
• Oil City: Average price is $3.49 per gallon.
• Pittsburgh: Average price is $3.40 per gallon.
• Saegertown: Average price is $3.49 per gallon.
• Warren: Average price is $3.70 per gallon.
• Waterford: Prices as low as $3.09 per gallon.