Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $3.60, down 10 cents from last Monday. One year ago, the price was $3.88. The New York State average is $3.81, down four cents from a week ago. A year ago, the NYS average was $3.68. AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

• Batavia - $3.81 (down 1 cent from last Monday)
• Buffalo - $3.81 (down 3 cents from last Monday)
• Elmira - $3.69 (down 7 cents from last Monday)
• Ithaca - $3.87 (down 4 cents from last Monday)
• Rochester - $3.85 (down 2 cents from last Monday)
• Rome - $3.88 (down 4 cents from last Monday)
• Syracuse - $3.81 (down 4 cents from last Monday)
• Watertown - $3.83 (down 7 cents from last Monday)

Domestic pump prices have maintained their daily decline this week despite the uncertainty rippling through the oil market in the days since Hamas terrorists attacked Israel. Oil prices have risen a few dollars per barrel this week, but that is far from the roughly $40 per barrel temporary spike following last year’s Russian invasion of Ukraine. The critical difference is that Russia is a significant oil producer, while Israel and the Palestinian territories are not. National pump prices dropped significantly amid lower demand and a decrease in oil prices. This morning, oil is $87 to $90 per barrel.

According to the latest data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand increased slightly while domestic gasoline stocks fell substantially. Tepid demand, alongside descending oil prices, has pushed pump prices lower. If oil prices continue to decline, drivers can expect further price drops at the pump in the weeks ahead.

There is mixed data when it comes to diesel prices. The national average price for diesel is $4.46 down six cents from last Monday, and down from $5.27 a year ago. The New York average for diesel is $4.71, down two cents from a week ago, but lower than $5.49 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.