As spring arrives, gas prices continue to climb

Conflict in Iran pushes oil prices up over $100

By AAA of Western and Central New York

The national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $3.94, up 22 cents from last Monday. One year ago, the price was $3.13. The New York state average is $3.86, up 24 cents from last Monday. A year ago, the NYS average was $3.10.

AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

• Batavia – $3.70 (up 16 cents from last Monday)
• Buffalo – $3.76 (up 20 cents from last Monday)
• Elmira – $3.71 (up 19 cents from last Monday)
• Ithaca – $3.75 (up 20 cents from last Monday)
• Rochester – $3.78 (up 20 cents from last Monday)
• Rome – $3.86 (up 24 cents from last Monday)
• Syracuse – $3.75 (up 21 cents from last Monday)
• Watertown – $3.90 (up 27 cents from last Monday)

Friday marked the official start of spring, and prices at the pump continued to climb by 22 cents in the past week. With the spring equinox ushering in warmer weather and more time on the road, gas prices are trending upward alongside seasonal demand. The White House’s recent announcement of plans to release 172 million barrels of oil from its strategic reserves over four months has had no immediate relief on the oil market so far, as the price of a barrel of crude continues to climb.

According to the latest data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand decreased last week from 9.24 million b/d to 8.72 million. Total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 249.5 million barrels to 244 million. Gasoline production decreased last week, averaging 9.4 million barrels per day.

Diesel prices have also escalated. The national average is $5.25, up 26 cents, while the New York average is $5.53, up 39 cents in the past week.

When it comes to EV charging, the national and state averages for L2 commercial electricity remain steady. Today’s national average per kilowatt hour of electricity at a public EV charging station remains at 42 cents. New York’s rate is 40 cents, no change from last week. The state is home to 20,261 chargers. An estimated 1.2 million AAA members live in households with one or more electric vehicles.

To conserve fuel, motorists should map routes, avoid peak traffic times like rush hour, and combine errands into one trip while using cruise control when possible. Drivers should also make sure tire pressure is at the vehicle’s recommended level for the best gas mileage, while removing any unnecessary and bulky items from the car since it takes more fuel to accelerate a heavy vehicle. Motorists can benefit from comparing pump prices before filling up with the AAA mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android.

AAA members enjoy savings on gas at Love’s Travel Stops or by joining the Fuel Rewards at Shell program. Learn more about those discounts here. Motorists can locate gas prices across the country and stay up-to-date on news and fuel-saving tips at www.gasprices.AAA.com, while the AAA mobile app locates the cheapest fuel prices based on a user’s location.

As upstate New York’s largest member services organization, AAA Western and Central New York provides more than 850,000 members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1900, AAA WCNY has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. Visit AAA at www.AAA.com.