While gas prices are still the highest they have been in four years, the downtown trend since late May is welcome news during this summer driving season. That's the word from AAA, which reports that the average prices at the pump fell again over the past week. Nationally, the average decreased by over six cents to $3.80 per gallon. In New York, the average dropped by just under six cents to $4.06. Meanwhile, Chautauqua County saw a smaller change in its average, which inched lower by a little over a penny and is currently $4.21. One year ago, the national and statewide averages were $3.15 and $3.19, respectively.
According to the latest data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand increased with holiday travel along with gasoline production while total domestic gasoline supply decreased. Crude oil prices are still down in the $68-71 per barrel range as of Monday morning.
AAA of Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following regional averages:
- Batavia - $4.20 (no change from last Monday)
- Buffalo - $4.21 (down six cents from last Monday)
- Elmira - $3.92 (down seven cents from last Monday)
- Ithaca - $4.31 (down seven cents from last Monday)
- Rochester - $4.21 (down seven cents from last Monday)
- Rome - $4.10 (down eight cents from last Monday)
- Syracuse - $4.16 (down eight cents from last Monday)
- Watertown - $4.10 (down nine cents from last Monday)
Click here for local gas prices.
