The national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.86, down five cents from last Monday. One year ago, the price was $3.04. The New York State average is $3.07, down three cents from last Monday. A year ago, the NYS average was $3.13. AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

•    Batavia - $3.10 (down 3 cents from last Monday)
•    Buffalo - $3.14 (no change from last Monday)
•    Elmira - $2.90 (down 5 cents from last Monday)
•    Ithaca - $3.19 (down 2 cents from last Monday)
•    Rochester - $3.14 (down 1 cent from last Monday)
•    Rome - $3.14 (down 2 cents from last Monday)
•    Syracuse - $3.04 (down 2 cents from last Monday)
•    Watertown - $3.09 (down 4 cents from last Monday)

This holiday season is delivering cheaper gas prices as travelers hit the road in record numbers. AAA projects 109.5 million Americans will drive at least 50 miles from home during the holiday period from December 20 to January 1. That represents a two percent increase from 2024.

The national average for a gallon of regular gas dropped five cents since last week to $2.86. It has been below $3 since December 2. This is the cheapest December at the pump since the end of 2020. Crude oil prices remain low with oil trading in the $57-61 range per barrel this morning. Despite an increase in gas demand during the holidays, supply is strong. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand increased from 8.45 million barrels per day last week to 9.07 million b/d, while supply rose by nearly five million barrels.

Diesel prices are also on the decline. The national average is $3.59 – down four cents from last Monday. The New York average is $3.90, down two cents from a week ago.

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 is 38 cents. New York’s rate is also 38 cents – the state is home to 17,438 chargers. 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.