Gas prices in Pennsylvania are rising above the national average, with some stations charging as much as $4.69 per gallon for regular unleaded fuel, leaving drivers and businesses struggling to cope.At a Sunoco station in Washington County, where gas is priced at $4.39 per gallon, Missy Dugan of Washington said the cost is taking a toll.”It’s pretty ridiculous, and they’re pretty high,” Dugan said. “I’m on disability, so I’m putting $6 on right now.”At $4.39 per gallon, Dugan said $6 in gas is all she can afford, as she struggles to adjust to rising costs on a fixed income. While $4.39 per gallon is among the lowest prices found in the area, it remains higher than the Pennsylvania average of $4.33 per gallon and the national average of $4.30 per gallon. According to AAA, gas prices have increased by 40 cents per gallon in the past month alone and are more than $1 higher than they were at this time last year. AAA spokesperson Jim Garrity explained some of the factors contributing to the price increases. “The weather starts getting nice. As it gets better, people start hitting the roads, and summer blend gasoline has made its way into the markets, which is a more expensive gas to purchase. But the large impact we’ve been seeing and the steep increases have been due to crude oil prices,” Garrity said. Crude oil prices recently reached their highest levels since 2022 overnight before coming down slightly, but these high prices are likely sticking around.”Oil is 50-60% of what you spend at the pump. It’s the main ingredient in the gasoline,” Garrity said. “When it goes up and down by a couple of dollars, that impacts what you pay. When it goes up and down by $30 or $40, that really impacts what you pay.”W2lmcmFtZSBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vaGVhcnN0dGVsZXZpc2lvbmRhdGFqb3VybmFsaXNtLmh0dmFwcHMuY29tL2dhc19tYXBfc2xpZGVyLzIvZ2FzX21hcF9zbGlkZXIvaW5kZXguaHRtbCIgc2Nyb2xsaW5nPSJubyIgZnJhbWVib3JkZXI9IjAiIHN0eWxlPSJ3aWR0aDogMDsgbWluLXdpZHRoOiAxMDAlICFpbXBvcnRhbnQ7IGJvcmRlcjogbm9uZTsiIGhlaWdodD0iNjgwcHgiXVsvaWZyYW1lXQ==Frank Stewart, of Ohio, was filling up a work vehicle at $6.29 per gallon for diesel fuel to make deliveries. He said the impact for his boss has been big.”We had a meeting today. We were talking about it. He said it’s outrageous. It’s really killing his budget,” Stewart said. “We kind of suck it up, but at the same time, we try to make our deliveries where we’re fuel-efficient but everybody can get their products timely. Try to find a middle-ground balance with all that.”Despite the unpredictability of gas prices, drivers remain hopeful for relief. “I just hope they go down soon because it’s hard,” Dugan said.

PITTSBURGH —

Gas prices in Pennsylvania are rising above the national average, with some stations charging as much as $4.69 per gallon for regular unleaded fuel, leaving drivers and businesses struggling to cope.

At a Sunoco station in Washington County, where gas is priced at $4.39 per gallon, Missy Dugan of Washington said the cost is taking a toll.

“It’s pretty ridiculous, and they’re pretty high,” Dugan said. “I’m on disability, so I’m putting $6 on right now.”

At $4.39 per gallon, Dugan said $6 in gas is all she can afford, as she struggles to adjust to rising costs on a fixed income.

While $4.39 per gallon is among the lowest prices found in the area, it remains higher than the Pennsylvania average of $4.33 per gallon and the national average of $4.30 per gallon. According to AAA, gas prices have increased by 40 cents per gallon in the past month alone and are more than $1 higher than they were at this time last year.

AAA spokesperson Jim Garrity explained some of the factors contributing to the price increases.

“The weather starts getting nice. As it gets better, people start hitting the roads, and summer blend gasoline has made its way into the markets, which is a more expensive gas to purchase. But the large impact we’ve been seeing and the steep increases have been due to crude oil prices,” Garrity said.

Crude oil prices recently reached their highest levels since 2022 overnight before coming down slightly, but these high prices are likely sticking around.

“Oil is 50-60% of what you spend at the pump. It’s the main ingredient in the gasoline,” Garrity said. “When it goes up and down by a couple of dollars, that impacts what you pay. When it goes up and down by $30 or $40, that really impacts what you pay.”

Frank Stewart, of Ohio, was filling up a work vehicle at $6.29 per gallon for diesel fuel to make deliveries. He said the impact for his boss has been big.

“We had a meeting today. We were talking about it. He said it’s outrageous. It’s really killing his budget,” Stewart said. “We kind of suck it up, but at the same time, we try to make our deliveries where we’re fuel-efficient but everybody can get their products timely. Try to find a middle-ground balance with all that.”

Despite the unpredictability of gas prices, drivers remain hopeful for relief.

“I just hope they go down soon because it’s hard,” Dugan said.