Gas prices across New York State climbed sharply over the past week as demand increased with the arrival of spring travel.
According to AAA Western and Central New York, the statewide average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is now $3.62, up 22 cents from last Monday. At this time last year, the statewide average was $3.12 per gallon.
The increase in New York follows a similar national trend. The national average price is $3.72 per gallon, up 24 cents in the past week and significantly higher than the $3.08 average recorded a year ago.
Across the region, most cities in western and central New York also saw noticeable increases in pump prices:
- Batavia: $3.54 (up 25 cents)
- Buffalo: $3.56 (up 16 cents)
- Elmira: $3.52 (up 17 cents)
- Ithaca: $3.55 (up 15 cents)
- Rochester: $3.58 (up 18 cents)
- Rome: $3.62 (up 22 cents)
- Syracuse: $3.54 (up 15 cents)
- Watertown: $3.63 (up 17 cents)
AAA says the spike comes as spring break travel begins, which typically leads to higher gasoline demand as more drivers hit the road.
Another major factor affecting prices is the cost of crude oil. Oil prices recently surpassed $100 per barrel, pushing fuel prices higher across the country.
In an effort to offset rising energy costs, the United States announced plans to release 172 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. 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 the agency’s history, in response to turmoil involving Iran.
Federal data from the Energy Information Administration shows that gasoline demand in the U.S. increased over the past week while overall supply declined, even as production rose.
Diesel prices also surged. The national average for diesel is now $4.99 per gallon, up 33 cents in a week, while the New York average climbed to $5.14, an increase of 39 cents.
