Delawareans heading out of town for the Thanksgiving holiday will see gas prices that are identical to the same period a year ago.
In its weekly report, Wilmington-based AAA Mid-Atlantic reported the price at the pump was $2.10, down a couple of cents from a week ago and identical to the same period in 2015.
Two dollars a gallon gas was available along the Kirkwood Highway- Capitol Trail area between Wilmington and Newark.
The national average price of $2.14 per gallon is three cents less per gallon than one week ago and nine cents less than one month ago.
The Northeast is expected to see imports of gasoline from Europe during the second half of the month. That should help boost supplies following the six-day shutdown of Colonial Pipeline earlier this month.
CURRENT AND PAST GAS PRICE AVERAGES
Regular Unleaded Gasoline (*indicates record high)
| 11/20/2016 | Week Ago | Year Ago | |
| National | $2.14 | $2.17 | $2.10 |
| Pennsylvania | $2.37 | $2.40 | $2.32 |
| Philadelphia (5-county) | $2.34 | $2.37 | $2.32 |
| South Jersey | $2.14 | $2.20 | $1.92 |
| Wilkes-Barre | $2.41 | $2.44 | $2.31 |
| Delaware | $2.10 | $2.12 | $2.10 |
| Crude Oil |
$45.69 per barrel |
$43.41 per barrel |
$48.45 per barrel |
At the close of Friday’s formal trading session on the NYMEX, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil closed up $2.28 from last week to settle at $45.69 per barrel.
Crude oil had an up and down week. Tuesday, WTI made its biggest one-day advance ($2.49/barrel to $45.81) since Feb. 12.
Then, on Thursday, crude oil futures dropped after official inventory reports indicated a larger-than-expected build-up of oil stocks.
“Good news ahead for motorists as Thanksgiving travelers are likely to enjoy the second lowest gas prices since 2008,” says Jana L. Tidwell, manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Historically, gasoline demand tends to decline during the month of November, and with the autumn refinery maintenance season nearing completion, pump prices are expected to move lower to close out the year.”
It has been reported that OPEC countries are ready to reach a “forceful” agreement on cutting oil output. That decision would have an impact on oil prices, but might also spur production in the U.S. if crude oil prices move north of $50 a barrel.
For prices in your neighborhood or the area where you plan to travel, check out AAA’s Fuel Price Finder (http://www.AAA.com/fuelfinder).
