Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $3.85, 2 cents higher than last Monday. One year ago, the price was $3.96. The New York State average is $3.92, up 2 cents from a week ago. A year ago, the NYS average was $4.35. AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

• Batavia - $3.86 (up 3 cents from last Monday)
• Buffalo - $3.88 (up 2 cents from last Monday)
• Elmira - $3.86 (up 1 cent from last Monday)
• Ithaca - $3.93 (up 3 cents from last Monday)
• Rochester - $3.90 (no change from last Monday)
• Rome - $3.94 (up 1 cent from last Monday)
• Syracuse - $3.91 (up 2 cents from last Monday)
• Watertown - $3.97 (up 1 cent from last Monday)

The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline has been hovering around $3.82 for the past two weeks, a noteworthy length for price stability. This lack of price movement came despite an uptick in gas demand and rising oil prices approaching the mid-$80s per barrel. Today’s update shows an increase of 2 cents since last week, possibly indicating that gas prices will bump up. The summer heat that kept people home and suppressed refinery production has eased for now, so we must look at the cost of oil to determine if the recent price climb is ending. More expensive oil will likely lead to higher oil prices. Today’s national average of $3.85 is 29 cents more than a month ago, but 11 cents less than a year ago.

This morning, diesel prices are up as well. The national average price for diesel is $4.31, up 13 cents from last week, but down from $5.04 a year ago. The New York average for diesel is $4.55, up 9 cents from last week, but still much lower than $5.52 one year ago.

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. Get more tips here: https://gasprices.aaa.com/news/fuel-saving-tips/. Motorists can benefit from comparing pump prices before filling up with the AAA Mobile App for iPhone, iPad, and Android. 

AAA members receive discounts at gas stations such as Fastrac, Maple Leaf Market and Shell. Learn more here. AAA members can save on gas by joining the Fuel Rewards at Shell program. Join now at AAA.com/Shell. Motorists can also locate gas prices across the country and stay up-to-date on news and fuel-saving tips at http://gasprices.AAA.com.