Drivers paying less for gas at the pumps

Gasoline prices nationwide are down for the third consecutive week, falling below $3 per gallon for the first time since April.

The national average price for a gallon of gas has fallen nearly 3 cents over the last week to $2.81 per gallon, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 10 million individual price reports. The national average price of diesel saw some relief as well, falling 0.7 cents to an average of $3.28 per gallon.

“From coast to coast, gas prices in nearly every state saw downward movement in the last week as sliding oil prices continued to keep the door open to falling gas prices,” Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy said in a blog post Monday.

Across the Philadelphia fivecounty region, the average price remains above the national average, with an average price per gallon of $2.97 on Oct. 30, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic. That price is down 4 cents from a week ago but still 32 cents more than the average price one year ago.

Gas prices typically go down following the Labor Day holiday as demand drops and refineries change to the less expensive “winter blend” of gasoline, according to the AAA release. This year, however, prices have remained higher, “mostly because of the high price of crude oil,” the release states.

“The $3 benchmark should bring welcome relief for mo-

torists in the Philadelphia 5-county area who, for much of this year, have been paying the highest gas prices since 2014,” Jana L. Tidwell, manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic said in the release.

AAA does not expect the downward trend to last, however, projecting prices to increase again during the first week of November with uncertainty around the midterm elections and in anticipation

AAA does not expect the downward trend to last, however, projecting prices to increase again during the first week of November with uncertainty around the midterm elections and in anticipation of the U.S. announcement of imposed sanctions on Iran, which take effect Nov. 4.

of the U.S. announcement of imposed sanctions on Iran, which take effect Nov. 4.

According to DeHaan, Saudi Arabia has indicated it is prepared to raise oil production, addressing what had been a major concern ahead of the Iran sanctions taking effect.

“Oil prices have fallen over 10 percent in recent weeks, providing the bulk of the gas price relief we’re seeing, and will continue to see for the next week or two at least,” he added. “While there is still some anxiety globally over a lack of spare oil capacity, the market has been laser focused on discussion from oil producers, including Russia, that they will act to raise production.”

In Chester County, the average price per gallon on Tuesday was $2.93; in Delaware County the average price per gallon was $2.96 and in Montgomery County the average price per gallon was $2.97, according to GasBuddy data.

States with the lowest average gas prices according to GasBuddy are: Oklahoma ($2.47), South Carolina ($2.49), Delaware ($2.51), Louisiana ($2.51) and Mississippi ($2.52).

States with the highest average gas prices according to GasBuddy are: Hawaii ($3.83), California ($3.79), Washington ($3.52), Oregon ($3.36) and Alaska ($3.33).

GasBuddy’s maintains a database of more than 150,000 gas station convenience stores, including real-time fuel price information, station locations and offerings, along with ratings and reviews.

DONNA ROVINS — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA A Sheetz store in Berks County shows a price per gallon of $2.93. Gasoline prices are down at the pumps for the third consecutive week.

DONNA ROVINS — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA A Sheetz store in Berks County shows a price per gallon of nearly $2.91 reflecting the Sheetz discount.