AAA Mid-Atlantic: What Did You Do this Summer? Local Drivers Saved Money at the Pump

PHILADELPHIA, PA (August 30, 2019) As the Delaware Valley gets ready to hit the road for the last summer road trip ahead of Labor Day, AAA Mid-Atlantic has good news for drivers’ wallets – dropping gas prices. Throughout the summer driving season, even as the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) refinery shut its doors and supplies tightened temporarily, our region saw little change in gas prices. AAA predicts that heading into Fall, drivers could see gas prices dip by as much as 25 cents.

2019 Summer Gas Price Averages

• Prices are down roughly 25 cents from 2019 high gas prices set in April
• Gas prices have declined from Memorial Day to Independence Day to Labor Day, despite local hiccups in late-June due to the PES refinery fire and subsequent closure

Labor Day 2019 – Philadelphia-Area

• Gas prices are on track to be the cheapest in three years both nationally and locally
• Philadelphia, South Jersey and Delaware should see prices that are at least 25 cents less than last year’s Labor Day holiday weekend and the cheapest since 2016
• Based on the trend of record-breaking and near-record-breaking travel volume for the Independence Day and Memorial Day holidays respectively, the state of the economy and lower gas prices, AAA expects more Americans to travel for this Labor Day holiday than last.

Labor Day – AAA Historical Gas Price Averages

Looking Ahead to Fall

As summer ends and we move into fall, local drivers should expect gas prices to decrease as a result of cheaper crude oil, the expected decline in gasoline demand after Labor Day and the switchover to winter-blend gasoline. AAA predicts that drivers in the Philadelphia area and the rest of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region will likely find savings of potentially 25 cents per gallon this fall compared to summer prices.

Looking ahead to the holiday weekend, all eyes will be on Hurricane Dorian as it approaches the continental U.S., bringing the potential to cause declining gas prices to shoot back up.  The mere threat of a hurricane making landfall can shutter domestic crude production, leading to spikes in crude and gasoline prices. In 2017, Hurricane Harvey caused gas prices in the Philadelphia 5 county region to increase 28 cents in just a matter of days following the storm’s landfall. 

###

Follow us on Twitter: @AAAPhillyNews

Mailing Address:
7777 Brewster Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19159

AAA provides automotive, travel and insurance services to 57 million members nationwide and more than three million members in Pennsylvania.  AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years.  The not-for-profit, fully tax-paying member organization works on behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android.  For more information, visit www.AAA.com.