National average moves higher, reaching $4 per gallon

Local prices vary amid tensions overseas

By AAA of Western and Central New York

The national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $4, up 13 cents from last Monday. One year ago, the price was $3.14. The New York state average is $4.15, up 7 cents from last Monday. A year ago, the NYS average was $3.18.

AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

• Batavia – $4.19 (up 2 cents from last Monday)
• Buffalo – $4.23 (no change from last Monday)
• Elmira – $4.07 (up 2 cents from last Monday)
• Ithaca – $4.26 (down 3 cents from last Monday)
• Rochester – $4.23 (up 1 cent from last Monday)
• Rome – $4.17 (up 6 cents from last Monday)
• Syracuse – $4.16 (down 1 cent from last Monday)
• Watertown – $4.18 (up 11 cents from last Monday)

The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline has gone up 13 cents since last week. Instability along the Strait of Hormuz is contributing to the increase at the pump and pushing crude oil prices toward $80 per barrel. However, prices are lower than they were in the spring when the national average peaked at $4.56 on May 21. Local prices are mixed as state prices in New York remain higher than the national average.

According to the latest data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand remained flat last week while total domestic gasoline supply decreased, and gasoline production decreased last week. This morning, crude oil is trading in the low-to-high-$80-per-barrel range.

Diesel prices are up this week, with the national average at $5.11, up 23 cents from last week. Last year at this time, the national average price for diesel fuel was $3.73. The New York average for diesel fuel is $5.48, up 5 cents from last week, and up from $3.93 last year.

When it comes to EV charging, the national average for L2 commercial electricity remains steady. Today’s national average per kilowatt-hour of electricity at a public EV charging station is 42 cents. New York’s rate is 41 cents. The state is home to 20,353 chargers. An estimated 1.2 million AAA members live in households with one or more electric vehicles. The 2026 AAA Car Guide shows renewed interest in electric vehicles amid high pump prices.

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. Motorists can benefit from comparing pump prices before filling up with the AAA mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android.

AAA members can save on gas at Love’s Travel Stops or by joining the Fuel Rewards at Shell program. Learn more about those discounts here. Motorists can locate gas prices across the country and stay up-to-date on news and fuel-saving tips at www.gasprices.AAA.com while the AAA mobile app locates the cheapest fuel prices based on a user’s location.

As upstate New York’s largest member services organization, AAA Western and Central New York provides more than 850,000 members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1900, AAA WCNY has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. Visit AAA at www.AAA.com.