Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $3.60, up 10 cents since last Monday. One year ago, the price was $4.12. The New York State average is $3.54, up 7 cents since last Monday. A year ago, the NYS average was $4.24. AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

•    Batavia - $3.50 (up 6 cents from last Monday)
•    Buffalo - $3.53 (up 6 cents from last Monday)
•    Elmira - $3.54 (up 9 cents from last Monday)
•    Ithaca - $3.56 (up 9 cents from last Monday)
•    Rochester - $3.56 (up 5 cents from last Monday)
•    Rome - $3.54 (up 6 cents from last Monday)
•    Syracuse - $3.55 (up 3 cents from last Monday)
•    Watertown - $3.58 (up 10 cents from last Monday)

Gas prices are up across the board as the price of oil, the primary ingredient in the production of gasoline, continues to move higher in the wake of the OPEC+ decision to cut oil production by over 1 million barrels a day beginning in May. This morning oil prices range from $81 to $85 per barrel, a slight increase from last week. In addition to the rise in the price of oil, new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows gas demand increased slightly from 9.15 to 9.3 million b/d last week while supply decreased by 4.1 million bbl to 222.6 million bbl. The combination of more expensive oil, greater demand and tighter supply is moving gas prices higher at the pump.

As gas prices rise, the fall in diesel prices has decelerated. The national average price for a gallon of diesel is $4.20, no change from a week ago. Here in New York, the current average for diesel is $4.84, down 1 cent from last week.

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.