The national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $4.12, up 13 cents from last Monday. One year ago, the price was $3.26. The New York State average is $4.07, up 14 cents from last Monday. A year ago, the NYS average was $3.14. AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

• Batavia - $3.98 (up 5 cents from last Monday)
• Buffalo - $4.01 (up 7 cents from last Monday)
• Elmira - $3.99 (up 18 cents from last Monday)
• Ithaca - $4.00 (up 8 cents from last Monday)
• Rochester – $4.04 (up 9 cents from last Monday)
• Rome - $4.05 (up 13 cents from last Monday)
• Syracuse - $4.01 (up 12 cents from last Monday)
• Watertown - $4.10 (up 11 cents from last Monday)

The national average for a gallon of regular exceeded $4/gallon last week for the first time since August 2022, and prices continue to rise. Today’s average of $4.12 is 80 cents higher than a month ago. Crude oil prices remain high, coming in at $108-$109 per barrel this morning, as the conflict in the Middle East continues. In 2022, gas prices remained elevated from March through August, after Russia invaded Ukraine, peaking in June when the national average reached a record of $5/gallon for one week.

Demand is also on the rise as Easter travelers head to warmer destinations. While Orlando was the top destination for air travelers, many families were driving from New York to Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina based on local AAA bookings.

Diesel prices also remain elevated. The national average is $5.62, up 20 cents while the New York average is $5.91, up 16 cents in the past week.

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 remains at 42 cents. New York’s rate is 40 cents, down 1 cent from last week. The state is home to 19,474 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. 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.