Press release from AAA:
Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $3.19, up four cents from last week. One year ago, the price was $2.22. The New York State average is $3.28 – up five cents from last week. A year ago, the NYS average was $2.30. AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:
- Batavia - $3.25 (up one cent since last week)
- Buffalo - $3.23 (up seven cents since last week)
- Ithaca - $3.26 (up six cents since last week)
- Rochester - $3.28 (up eight cents since last week)
- Rome - $3.29 (up two cents since last week)
- Syracuse - $3.25 (up seven cents since last week)
- Watertown - $3.24 (up two cents since last week)
AAA expected a jump in gas prices following the storm and taking into account the demand surrounding the holiday weekend; motorists are expected to pay the most expensive gas prices since 2014. However, AAA is happy to report there is ample gasoline supply in the U.S. Once the impact of the Gulf Coast storm is mitigated, and winter blend fuel is in production, gas prices should begin to decline.
From Gas Buddy:
"As expected, Hurricane Ida's disruption to the oil and refining industry led gas prices to rise over the last week, though thankfully, the rise wasn't very significant," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. "With several Louisiana refineries poised to have power restored in the days ahead, the impact on gas prices could soon reverse, and with gasoline demand now likely to decline with the close of the summer driving season, I see the odds rising that gas prices will soon begin a seasonal downturn, accelerated by the expiration of summer gasoline requirements on September 15. By Halloween, we could see the national average back under $3 per gallon."
