The national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $3.13, up a whole six cents from last Monday. One year ago, the price was $3.08. The New York State average is $3.16, up two cents from last Monday. A year ago, the NYS average was $3.27. AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

Batavia - $3.20 (up 2 cents from last Monday)

Buffalo - $3.11 (no change from last Monday)

Elmira - $3.05 (down 3 cents from last Monday)

Ithaca - $3.31 (down 2 cents from last Monday)

Rochester - $3.22 (no change from last Monday)

Rome - $3.31 (up 1 cent from last Monday)

Syracuse - $3.16 (up 1 cent from last Monday)

Watertown - $3.18 (up 3 cents from last Monday)

Oil costs hovering around $80 a barrel have helped push the national average for a gallon of gasoline six cents higher since last week to $3.13. Domestic gasoline demand is low, but global oil prices have surged due to strong winter heating fuel demand and new U.S. sanctions against Russia’s energy sector. Oil costs account for 56% of what motorists pay at the pump, so the more expensive oil leads to more expensive pump prices.

According to the latest data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand fell last week while total domestic rose, meanwhile gasoline production popped last week, averaging 9.3 million barrels daily. This morning, oil prices range from $78 to $83 per barrel. For drivers who use diesel fuel, the national average price for diesel is $3.63, up eight cents from last Monday. The New York average is $3.92, up three cents from last Monday.

When it comes to EV charging, the national and state averages for L2 commercial electricity remain steady. Today’s national average per kilowatt hour of electricity at a public EV charging station remained at 34 cents, the same amount for almost 5 months. An estimated 1.2 million AAA members live in households with one or more electric vehicles.

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.