Local gasoline prices dip below $3
Dean’s Citgo, 950 Jessop Place, is among 10 gas stations around Washington to drop gas prices below $3.08 a gallon. Citgo offered gas at $2.99 a gallon Monday.
The Citgo in Washington was selling gas for less than $3 per gallon on Monday. Local gas prices should continue to stay around that price for a while, according to Don Bower, manager of transportation and petroleum products for Superior Petroleum Co., because of current overproduction of crude oil.
For the last 10 days, Dean’s Citgo was offering the cheapest gas in the city of Washington at $2.99 per gallon. Owner Richard Dean said he intends to “keep prices lower than anybody else.”
“We’ve been below everyone for quite awhile,” he said Monday. “We’ve been five or six cents cheaper than anyone else, and if someone matches us, we’ll go cheaper.”
Dean’s Citgo, 950 Jessop Place, is among 10 gas stations around the city to drop gas prices below $3.08 a gallon. On Tuesday, Sam’s Club, 80 Trinity Point Drive, dipped below Dean’s at $2.97 per gallon. Kwik Fill, 705 E. Maiden St., is also selling gas at $2.99 per gallon.
“Usually after we drop, the others follow,” Kwik Fill assistant manager Paul Scott said. “Customers are real surprised we’re under $3.”
Don Bowers, manager of transportation and petroleum products for Superior Petroleum Co., said drivers should continue to see dropping prices at the pump. Bowers said there is currently a “glut,” or overproduction of crude oil.
“The market is falling, but it’s starting to stabilize,” he said. “It’s possible it will go lower, but not too much.”
Bowers said owners and suppliers prefer lower gas prices.
“We love it when the prices are down,” he said. “You make more money when it’s down.”
Bevi Powell, senior vice president of AAA East Central, said the average gas price for Washington is $3.09 a gallon, almost 20 cents more than the $2.92 national average. The state average is hovering at $3.05 per gallon.
“National oil prices continue to trend downward,” she said.
Powell attributes the trend to the time of the year and an uneventful hurricane season. Powell said that in past years, hurricanes have impacted oil refineries.
“Plus were are moving into the winter season and the demand drops. Prices fall. Winter blend gas is cheaper to manufacture,” she said.
Although it’s hard to predict the gas market, Powell said prices may fall anywhere between 5 and 15 cents more. Powell said gas prices plummeted from $3.40 to $3.09 in one month.
“Don’t expect another drop, but do expect more downward movements,” she said.
In Greene County, gas prices under $3 haven’t been seen yet.
Bob Keller, manager at Pecjak’s Sunoco in Waynesburg, reduced the prices at his station shortly before noon Tuesday to $3.14 a gallon for regular. “We usually keep it a penny under everybody else, at least in the Waynesburg area,” he said.
Asked how long the low prices might last, “I wish I could tell you,” he said.
The Sheetz convenience store on Route 21 in Franklin Township was selling regular at $3.15 a gallon Tuesday, a manager said.
Nationally, South Carolina has the cheapest gas at $2.67 per gallon. Hawaii has the most expensive gas at $3.99 per gallon. Pennsylvania hit a record high in 2008 when gas hit $4.07 per gallon.