The national average for a gallon of regular gas has risen six cents since last Monday, while the average for a gallon of regular in New York has fallen three cents.
According to AAA of Western and Central New York, the New York State average is $3.38, down three cents from last Monday. One year ago, the state average was $3.42. The national average is up six cents to $3.13 a gallon.
This is the first rise in the national average since September when the cheaper-to-produce winter blend of fuel was reintroduced. Prices were slower to fall in New York when the national average first came down, and we may be seeing a similar effect now as prices in New York trail the national trend.
Demand for gas is strong amid a 10-day holiday travel period where AAA predicts nearly 104 million motorists will drive 50 miles or more from their homes. In addition, oil prices are creeping higher back toward the $80 a barrel mark. If these trends continue over the next week, motorists everywhere may see gas prices rise.
Diesel prices are seeing a similar mixed trend. The national average price for diesel is $4.01, up one cent from last Monday, and down from $4.68 a year ago. The New York average for diesel is $4.48, down three cents from a week ago, and lower than $5.37 one year ago.
