Price of gasoline dropping
Drivers hitting the road now can look forward to the lowest gas prices for a Labor Day weekend in more than 10 years, according to AAA.
The association says the average price in the Pittsburgh region is $2.58 per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline.
In Butler County, prices are slightly lower than the regional average. In Butler, Slippery Rock and Sarver, the average price is $2.55. In Cranberry Township and Zelienople, the average price is $2.49.
These prices are nearly $1 lower than they were for Labor Day weekend 2014. Then, the average price in the Pittsburgh market was $3.56.
Chelsea Pompeani, a AAA spokeswoman, said gas prices have declined every day for nearly three weeks due to the dropping prices of crude oil.
“When crude continues to drop, we’ll see gas prices plummet,” Pompeani said.
Two years ago, the price over Labor Day weekend was $3.69. Three years ago, the price was $3.80.
Five years ago, the Labor Day weekend price was about $2.60 in the region. Ten years ago, the price was about $3.
In 2004, the price was $1.95 per gallon. Although this year’s price did not beat that year’s, it is as close as it has come in a decade.
“It’s close,” Pompeani said.
The national average is $2.44. Last year, the national average was $3.43. The statewide average price is $2.48, compared to last year’s average of $3.49.
These low prices could create significant savings for the 33 million people across the nation expected to be traveling by car this weekend.
People traveling to surrounding states will get a break, too. In Ohio, the average price is $2.29 — way down from last year’s average of $3.69. In New York, drivers will face an average price of $2.62, down from $3.70 last year.
The price in Maryland is $2.39, down from last year’s price of $3.38.
Back in May for Memorial Day weekend, which is another big travel weekend, the average price was $2.89. That was a dollar cheaper than for the same weekend in 2014.
The low point for gas prices this year in the area was $2.25 in February.
