PA To Feel Pain At The Pumps Due To Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine

PENNSYLVANIA — Prepare to pay more at the pumps. Russia's invasion of Ukraine sent oil prices rising on Thursday and will cause consumers to pay more for gasoline, according to experts.

The conflict, which began early Thursday, isn't the only reason gas prices will continue rising for the time being, according to Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for the GasBuddy websitethat monitors gas prices for more than 150,000 gas stations across the country.

"We’re also just a few weeks away from the traditional start of the spring surge in gasoline prices, brought on by the change to summer gasoline, seasonal maintenance at refineries and rising demand, DeHaan warned. "The weeks ahead could get ugly."

Oil prices jumped 7.5 percent on Thursday, rising to more than a $100 a barrel for the first time in eight years. That's sure to send gas prices, which already have climbed for eight consecutive weeks, even higher.

According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of unleaded gas nationwide was $3.54 on Thursday. In Pennsylvania, the average was $3.74 Only eight states had a higher average: New York, California, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Arizona.

The national average was $2.66 a year ago, $3.33 a month ago and $3.52 a week ago.

Here are the AAA-compiled average prices in Eastern Pennsylvania counties as of Thursday:

• Philadelphia: $3.75

• Berks: $3.76

• Bucks: $3.78

• Montgomery: $3.79

• Chester: $3.79

Here are the average prices in Western Pennsylvania counties as of Thursday:

• Allegheny: $3.62

• Westmoreland: $3.65

• Washington: $3.66

• Beaver: $3.66

• Butler: 3.69

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