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West Virginia sees savings at the gas pump

CHARLESTON — Gas prices dropped again this week in West Virginia, this time by nearly 3 cents to $2.489 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report.

Gas prices have dropped in every state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast region this week, and compared to one month ago, motorists are paying less for a gallon of gasoline.

For the fourth consecutive week, gasoline inventories increased. With a 2.4 million barrel build, the region sits at 58.4 million barrels — the largest amount of inventory carried by this region since the beginning of September.

This week’s average price is $2.489 in northern West Virginia. The average price during the week of Dec. 4 was $2.517.

The average price during the week of Dec. 12, 2016, was $2.274.

The following is a list of the average prices in several West Virginia locations:

• $2.416 Bridgeport

• $2.417 Clarksburg

• $2.397 Huntington

• $2.658 Martinsburg

• $2.575 Morgantown

• $2.400 Parkersburg

• $2.532 Weirton

• $2.518 Wheeling

The national average price for a gallon of gasoline dropped 2 cents on the week to $2.46. Looking forward, drivers can expect pump prices to continue to drop heading into the holiday season as supply strengthens and fall gasoline demand weakens. Consumer gasoline demand is registering under 9 million b/d for the second consecutive week, while gasoline inventories increased by nearly 7 million barrels, according to the Energy Information Administration.

At the close of Friday’s formal trading session on the NYMEX, West Texas Intermediate increased 67 cents to settle at $57.36. Price volatility kicked into high gear last week for crude prices, amid reports of a potential oil worker strike in Nigeria and financial woes in Venezuela potentially impacting its oil production.

In additional news, the energy minister for the United Arab Emirates said Monday that non-OPEC and OPEC countries that have agreed to cut production through December 2018 will announce an exit strategy from the production agreement in June 2018.

Although the agreement will still be in effect until the end of 2018, early signals about the end of the agreement may give market observers greater confidence in knowing that global crude supply has been curtailed and prices are likely to keep riding high.

Motorists can find current gas prices along their route with the free AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android.

The app can also be used to map a route, find discounts, book a hotel and access AAA roadside assistance. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile.

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 81 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members.

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