Today’s national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $3.26 down two cents from last Monday. One year ago, the price was $3.37. The New York State average is $3.30, no change from one week ago. A year ago, the NYS average was $3.45. AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:
- Batavia – $3.23 (no change from last Monday)
- Buffalo – $3.29 (down 1 cent from last Monday)
- Rochester – $3.26 (down 1 cent from last Monday)
After spiking more than a dime two weeks ago, the national average for a gallon of gasoline has had a calm week by remaining at $3.27. Recent news that the large BP-Whiting refinery in Indiana—which has been offline since early February due to power issues—is reopening soon may have contributed to easing pump price nerves. This refinery processes nearly 440,000 barrels of crude oil daily, and the shutdown caused gasoline prices throughout the Midwest to rise, bringing the national average up with it. Additionally, milder weather and longer days are in the forecast, which means the seasonal rise in gas prices is primed to begin. Experts project it will be a slow, wobbly start to rising prices this spring.
This morning, oil prices range from $76 to $81 per barrel, a $2 decrease from one week ago. Diesel prices are also fluctuating. The national average price for diesel is $4.07, down 3 cents from one week ago, and down from $4.43 a year ago. The New York average for diesel is $4.40, down 1 cent from a week ago, and lower than $5.07 one year ago.
