AP photo The price of regular unleaded gasoline is displayed in Irving, Texas, Monday, May 11, 2026.

Gas prices are 20 cents higher in Western Pennsylvania this week at $4.851 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

The price for a gallon of gas in Western Pennsylvania on Monday was $4.851 compared to $4.654 a week ago and $3.513 a year ago. Gas prices in Warren remain among the highest in the state at $4.903 as of Monday. That’s tied with New Castle and a tick below Washington ($4.940), Pittsburgh, ($4.944) and Beaver ($4.958). Bradford ($4.745) and Sharon ($4.774) are among the lowest prices in the state.

Even though the national average has decreased over the past few days, this week’s average is still seven cents more than a week ago at $4.52. Pump prices are 39 cents more than a month ago and $1.39 higher than they were a year ago. Prices have not been this high since summer of 2022. While crude oil prices dipped below $100 per barrel amid ongoing negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, gasoline prices continue to face pressure from global supply concerns.

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand decreased last week from 9.10 million barrels per day to 8.81 million. Total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 222.3 million barrels to 219.8 million. Gasoline production decreased last week, averaging 9.6 million barrels per day.

U.S. consumer prices climbed sharply again last month as the 10-week war with Iran pushed energy prices higher.

The Labor Department’s consumer price index rose 3.8% from April 2025, according to data released Tuesday. On a month-to-month basis, April prices rose 0.6% from March as gasoline prices rose 5.4% during the month; the month-over-month gain was down from a 0.9% increase from February to March.

Labor Department figures showed that gasoline prices are up more than 28% compared with a year ago. However, the AAA motor club listed the average regular gallon of gasoline above $4.50 on Tuesday, about 44% more than it cost last year at this time.

Excluding volatile food and energy costs, so-called consumer core prices rose 0.4% last month from March and 2.8% from April 2025, relatively modest readings that suggest the energy price burst has yet to spill over more broadly into other prices.

Grocery prices rose 0.7% from March to April as meat prices rose. Those prices had retreated slightly the month before.

“Inflation is the key drag on the U.S. economy now,” Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union wrote. “There is a real financial squeeze underway. For the first time in three years, inflation is eating up all wage gains. This is a setback for middle-class and lower-income households and they know it. They are having to cut back on spending and stretch every dollar.”

The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are California ($6.15), Washington ($5.76), Hawaii ($5.65), Oregon ($5.32), Alaska ($5.26), Nevada ($5.24), Illinois ($4.97), Arizona ($4.81), Michigan ($4.72), and Ohio ($4.70).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive gasoline markets are Oklahoma ($3.94), Mississippi ($3.98), Arkansas ($3.99), Louisiana ($4.00), Texas ($4.03), Georgia ($4.03), Nebraska ($4.04), Alabama ($4.06), Kansas ($4.08), and New Mexico ($4.13).

The Associated Press contributed to this report.