Sign In
Upcoming Event
Free Newsletter
Gas prices rise in Pennsylvania amid Iran conflict and seasonal demand, AAA reports
Stacy Wescoe//March 16, 2026
PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES
Gas prices rise in Pennsylvania amid Iran conflict and seasonal demand, AAA reports
Stacy Wescoe//March 16, 2026//
Gas prices continue to skyrocket with the average price for a gallon of gas 12 cents higher in Pennsylvania this week at $3.703, according to AAA East Central‘s latest Gas Price Report.
In the Lehigh Valley, the average price for a gallon of regular gas was $3.867 on March 16, up from $3.551 on March 9 and up from $3.065 one year ago.
In addition to the price increases being caused by the conflict in Iran, which began Feb. 28, AAA noted that gasoline demand increases this time of year as the weather warms up and more drivers hit the road. The national average has gone up 73 cents since the conflict began.
AAA also pointed out that crude oil prices play a major role in what drivers pay at the pump, and prices have surpassed the $100/barrel mark multiple times in recent days. To help offset rising prices, the U.S. announced it will release 172 million barrels of oil from its strategic reserves over four months.
The move is part of a broader effort by the International Energy Agency to release a total of 400 million barrels of oil, the largest emergency release in its history.
According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand increased last week from 8.29 million barrels per day to 9.24 million. Total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 253.1 million barrels to 249.5 million.
Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 9.9 million barrels per day.
At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, West Texas Intermediate rose $3.80 to settle at $87.25 a barrel. The EIA reports crude oil inventories increased by 3.8 million barrels from the previous week.
At 443.1 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 2% below the five-year average for this time of year.
