Drivers in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton area are paying more at the pump this week, though regional prices remain below the Pennsylvania average, according to AAA East Central.

The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton metropolitan area rose to $4.429 on Sept. 21, up from $4.401 a week ago. The local average is still nearly 14 cents lower than Pennsylvania’s statewide average of $4.570 per gallon.

Despite the modest weekly increase of nearly 3 cents, gas prices in the Lehigh Valley are more than $1.19 higher than a year ago, when the regional average stood at $3.238 per gallon on Sept. 21, 2025.

Statewide, gas prices increased by 8 cents over the past week, climbing from $4.499 to $4.570 per gallon, AAA reported. Nationally, the average price for regular gasoline rose 16 cents to $4.47 per gallon, more than $1 higher than a year ago.

AAA attributed the continued increase in fuel prices to elevated crude oil costs. Oil prices have remained near $100 per barrel amid ongoing volatility in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route. At Wednesday’s close, West Texas Intermediate crude settled at $102.43 per barrel.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, gasoline demand increased last week from 8.55 million barrels per day to 8.79 million barrels per day. Domestic gasoline supplies also rose, increasing from 206.9 million barrels to 207.7 million barrels.

Among major Pennsylvania markets, the Philadelphia region reported an average gasoline price of $4.548 per gallon, up slightly from $4.542 a week earlier and higher than the Lehigh Valley average.

Pennsylvania’s current average remains below the state’s record high of $5.071 per gallon, set June 12, 2022.