Gas Prices on the Rise in Pennsylvania

By Kara Seymour (Patch Staff)

If you’ve gotten used to seeing gas prices drop each time you fill up, prepare to pay up this month.

Gas prices are increasing—and the trend will likely continue through the spring, according to AAA Mid Atlantic. In the past week, the average price for a gallon of gas in the United States has increased about $0.02, AAA said.

“Gas prices had declined a record 123 consecutive days to $2.03 per gallon before increasing last week for the first time since Sept. 25,” AAA said.

The increase in prices is due to a combination of refinery issues and more stable crude oil costs, AAA Mid Atlantic said.

On the bright side, the price to fill up is still significantly cheaper than last year. The average price of gas in the United States is $2.11 a gallon as of Wednesday. That’s $1.16 less than a year ago.

The average price of gas in Pennsylvania as of Thursday is $2.30 per gallon, according to GasBuddy.com.

AAA said it expects gas prices to continue rising in February. It’s possible prices will increase as much as $0.50 per gallon by the spring, AAA said.

“It is a good bet that most drivers will pay more for gasoline in March than today,” said Jana L. Tidwell, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Yet even if gas prices increase as expected, drivers should continue paying at least a dollar less on gasoline than what they spent in recent years during the spring.”