Motorists are finally seeing some relief at the pumps, as gasoline prices are more than 40 cents cheaper per gallon than last April.
The average price of gasoline in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area at the end of the week was $3.53 per gallon, down 7 cents in the last week and 43 cents from one year ago. The average gasoline price is $3.59 per gallon in Pennsylvania and $3.56 nationally.
The national average price of gasoline decreased during March for the first time in the last 10 years, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic.
AAA officials said this spring, the average price of gasoline should remain cheaper than last year's prices. Last year, gasoline prices peaked in April.
"It is very unusual for gas prices to decline in early spring like we have seen this year," said AAA Mid-Atlantic spokeswoman Jana Tidwell. "An increase in refinery production and lower oil prices in early March have combined to provide rare falling prices for motorists in comparison to recent years."
While it is possible that gas prices may surge briefly again this spring, the national average should remain less than last year's high of $3.94 per gallon due to increased domestic production and continued low demand, Ms. Tidwell said.
Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst for GasBuddy, an organization that operates websites reporting fuel prices, said while prices tend to be lower than last year, there will be wide disparity between different regions.
"The near-term trend for most regions is currently flat, but I suspect we'll see some mild spikes in the upper Midwest and perhaps in the northeast in April and May," Mr. Kloza said. "Generally, this should be a calmer and gentler spring and summer than last year."
U.S. consumers are now saving about $110 million to $120 million per day versus this time last year, Mr. Kloza said.
This month marked the first anniversary of the 2012 peak in gasoline prices, when the national average reached $3.94 per gallon on April 5 and 6. The highest average in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area in 2012 was $3.97 in September. The highest average ever recorded was $4.06 a gallon in July 2008.
Mr. Kloza said gasoline prices are still expensive when compared to 10 years ago or even 2009, but the talk of $4 to $5 a gallon earlier this year was a hyperbole.
While prices are cheaper than last spring, local motorists said the prices are still not low enough.
As she pumped gasoline at Sheetz in Wilkes-Barre, Catherine Burik said she is not happy about the gasoline prices, which were $3.55 a gallon earlier this week.
"With the economy the way it is now, even getting a job is hard," said the 30-year-old Dickson City resident. "The gas prices aren't doing us any good. We could be putting the money back into the economy in different ways."
Brian Francisco, 55, of Wilkes-Barre, also wishes gasoline prices were lower.
"Gas prices could come down. It's still close to $4 a gallon," Mr. Francisco said. "When it gets back to the $2 range, if it ever does, that's what I think is reasonable."
Contact the writer: dallabaugh@citizensvoice.com