Sep. 1—With the summer driving season coming to a close this Labor Day weekend, gas prices have fallen for the eleventh straight week nationwide and locally, but still remain above $4 per gallon at most stations in the region.

The average cost for a gallon of regular unleaded across the U.S. this week was $3.83, an increase of 69 cents from the same time in 2021, according to the federal Energy Information Administration.

When prices are adjusted for inflation, that is also the highest Labor Day week price since 2014, EIA said.

But the cost per gallon has dropped by $1.18 since it peaked in mid-June, and about 40 cents just in the last month, having fallen every week since June 13, according to the agency's report this week.

The Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end to the summer driving season, when gasoline demand is usually at its highest in the U.S. Since lower demand typically causes prices to decrease, most analysts expect prices to keep decreasing into the fall and winter.

Pennsylvania's average price Thursday was $4.07 per gallon, while in Berks, it was a penny cheaper, with some stations below $4, according to AAA and GasBuddy.

In Lehigh County the average was $4.05, while in Chester and Montgomery counties it was $4.08 and $4.03 in Delaware County, AAA reports.

Gas prices nationally are at their lowest since March 3, according to GasBuddy.

"Gas prices (nationally) are now $1.20 per gallon lower than mid-June, with Americans spending $450 million less on gasoline every day as a result," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

Though this year was forecast to be the biggest travel summer since COVID first caused shutdowns in 2020, gasoline demand on Independence Day weekend this year was lower than that of 2021, and the decline in gallons pumped in recent weeks shows that seasonal trends continue to push demand down for the unofficial close to the summer, De Haan said in a press release.

"It was a dizzying time as gas prices surged ahead of summer, which caused many Americans to rethink their summer travel plans, only for the longest decline in gas prices since the pandemic to start providing meaningful relief," he said. "As the sun sets on summer, gas prices are in far more familiar territory and could continue to decline well into fall, barring major disruptions from hurricanes and the likes."

More than half of all U.S. refinery capacity is based in the Gulf Coast, according to EIA, so an active storm season in that hurricane-prone region would push up prices.

EIA also expects prices to keep dropping this year, predicting the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded will be $3.67 in December and decrease by another dime in January.

The agency said the gas price spike this spring came as demand increased. People had traveled less during the pandemic, meaning gasoline demand and prices decreased significantly in 2020.

Also in 2022, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine contributed to gas price increases, as sanctions on Russia's crude oil and petroleum product exports reduced global availability of gas and diesel fuel, EIA said.

Despite still-high gas prices, about 32% of Americans will travel for Labor Day weekend, with 82% of them going by car, according to an online survey conducted across the U.S. by AAA in early August.

And even though summer road trips and vacations traditionally wrap up this weekend, many plan to continue traveling during the fall months, AAA said.

Gas prices have affected consumer behaviors, though, the survey showed.

Eighty percent of those who responded said they made cutbacks to save money, with those between the ages of 18 and 34 cutting back the most.

The top areas where consumers saved included: non-grocery shopping (clothing, electronics, etc.), 49%; driving, 44%; going to movies, 36%; flying, 29%; other recreational activities (sporting events, concerts, theater, etc.), 29%.

Key travel links

PennDOT road conditions: 511pa.com

BARTA: bartabus.com

SEPTA: septa.org

Philadelphia International Airport: phl.org

TSA: 866-289-9673

Amtrak: amtrak.com or 800-USA-RAIL