The national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $4.46, up 35 cents from last Monday. One year ago, the price was $3.17. The New York State average is $4.46, up 27 cents from last Monday. A year ago, the NYS average was $3.10. AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

• Batavia - $4.39 (up 22 cents from last Monday)
• Buffalo - $4.41 (up 25 cents from last Monday)
• Elmira - $4.37 (up 30 cents from last Monday)
• Ithaca - $4.39 (up 25 cents from last Monday)
• Rochester – $4.40 (up 21 cents from last Monday)
• Rome - $4.40 (up 26 cents from last Monday)
• Syracuse - $4.40 (up 23 cents from last Monday)
• Watertown - $4.49 (up 30 cents from last Monday)

Gas prices rose sharply with the arrival of May as oil prices increased amid continued tensions in the Middle East. Gas prices are the highest they’ve been in four years since 2022. This morning, oil prices range from $103 to $109 per barrel, compared to $97 to $108 per barrel one week ago. Oil is the main ingredient in gasoline, so oil prices have a direct impact on pump prices.

According to the latest data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand increased while total domestic gasoline supply is down along with gasoline production, which can contribute to the spike at the pumps.

Diesel prices are also on the rise this week with the national average at $5.64, up 19 cents from last week, and up from $3.55 a year ago. The New York average for diesel fuel is $5.94, up 3 cents from last week, and up from $3.90 last year.

When it comes to EV charging, the national average for L2 commercial electricity is up slightly. Today’s national average per kilowatt hour of electricity at a public EV charging station is 42 cents, up a penny from last week. New York’s rate is 41 cents, also up a penny from last week. The state is home to 20,059 chargers. An estimated 1.2 million AAA members live in households with one or more electric vehicles.

A new AAA survey shows that drivers continue to show greater interest in hybrid vehicles than in fully electric models. This year, 35% of U.S. adults say they are “very likely” or “likely” to purchase a hybrid for their next vehicle, whether new or used. Those who favor hybrids most often point to reduced concerns about driving range and access to charging.

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 enjoy savings 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.