Gas prices across New York are on the rise again, outpacing the national average as market pressures continue to push costs higher.
According to AAA Western and Central New York, the statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is now $4.19—up 8 cents from last week. That’s also significantly higher than this time a year ago, when the average price in New York stood at $3.10.
Nationally, drivers are paying an average of $4.11 per gallon, a 6-cent increase from last Monday. One year ago, the national average was $3.15.
Across the region, most areas are seeing modest increases at the pump. Rochester and Watertown are tied for the highest average in AAA’s coverage area at $4.19 per gallon. Syracuse and Batavia are both at $4.17, while Buffalo is just behind at $4.16. Ithaca and Rome are each reporting averages of $4.14, and Elmira currently has the lowest regional price at $4.07 per gallon.
After a brief dip, gas prices have begun trending upward again, driven in part by ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. While oil prices initially dropped following a ceasefire announcement between the United States and Iran, instability in the Strait of Hormuz has since pushed crude prices higher.
Oil prices now range between $97 and $108 per barrel, up from $88 to $94 just one week ago. Because crude oil is the primary component in gasoline, increases in oil prices typically lead to higher prices at the pump.
Federal data shows gasoline demand has dipped slightly, while overall supply has also decreased. At the same time, production levels continue to rise.
Meanwhile, diesel prices are moving in the opposite direction. The national average for diesel is down 8 cents this week to $5.45 per gallon, though that remains well above last year’s $3.55. In New York, diesel is averaging $5.91 per gallon—down 1 cent from last week, but still up sharply from $3.90 a year ago.
Analysts say drivers should continue to expect fluctuations in the weeks ahead as global and domestic factors continue to impact fuel markets.
