AAA Mid-Atlantic: Northeastern PA Drivers Wash Their Hands of Gas Prices over $2.50 

WILKES-BARRE, PA (March 17, 2020) According to AAA Gas Prices, drivers in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Hazelton region as well as Bloomsburg and Berwick are paying less than $2.50 at the pump. The last time these local gas averages were below $2.50 was in January and February of last year. The local downward trend mirrors the drop seen in the national gas price average which has been largely influenced by falling crude prices as the result of a corona-driven drop in global demand and the oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia.

The national average for a gallon of regular unleaded is now $2.23, down 13 cents over the past week, 20 cents in a month and 31 cents less than last year at this same time.

CURRENT AND PAST GAS PRICE AVERAGES
Regular Unleaded Gasoline (*indicates record high) 

“Pump prices continue to decline as the global economy faces significant downward pressure from COVID-19 fears and the ongoing crude price war,” says Jana L. Tidwell, manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Gas prices usually increase in the spring due to an increase in demand and lower supply, but this year AAA expects gas prices to continue trending cheaper, with the high likelihood of the national average hitting $2 per gallon before the end of March.”

Fears about COVID-19 and the crude price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia pushed crude prices lower last week. After President Trump announced that the U.S. Department of Energy would purchase oil to top off the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, crude prices rallied briefly. However, the announcement is unlikely to help increase crude prices further since the limited number of barrels the U.S. could purchase is small when compared to the dramatic reduction in global crude demand as a result of reduced economic activity due to COVID-19. Moving into this week, crude prices are likely to continue decreasing as the world grapples with how to contain the ongoing international public health crisis and associated economic challenges that could lead to a global recession. Until the price war ends and fears about COVID-19 subside, domestic crude prices are likely to remain low.

AAA has a variety of resources to help motorists save on fuel:

• Shell Fuel Rewards Program for AAA Members: (https://www.AAA.com/Shell) gives AAA members nationwide a discount on gasoline at Shell stations when they join the Fuel Rewards® program.
• Fuel Price Finder (https://www.AAA.com/fuelfinder) locates the lowest fuel price in your area.
• AAA Gas Cost Calculator (https://gasprices.aaa.com/aaa-gas-cost-calculator/) helps budget travel expenses.

AAA is the most comprehensive resource for gas prices. Unlike the Lundberg Survey of 7,000 gas stations, AAA reports reflect actual prices from credit card transactions at more than 100,000 gas stations in the U.S.  

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AAA provides automotive, travel and insurance services to 60 million members nationwide and more than 3.2 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.