The national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $4.11, up 6 cents from last Monday. One year ago, the price was $3.15. The New York State average is $4.19, up 8 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 - $4.17 (up 1 cent from last Monday)
• Buffalo - $4.16 (up 1 cent from last Monday)
• Elmira - $4.07 (up 4 cents from last Monday)
• Ithaca - $4.14 (up 2 cents from last Monday)
• Rochester - $4.19 (up 2 cents from last Monday)
• Rome - $4.14 (up 5 cents from last Monday)
• Syracuse - $4.17 (up 4 cents from last Monday)
• Watertown - $4.19 (up 5 cents from last Monday)

After a brief decline, gas prices are on the rise once again as tensions persist in the Middle East. Oil prices dropped sharply after the announcement of a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, but continued instability along the Strait of Hormuz has prices pushing upward. This morning, oil prices range from $97 to $108 per barrel, compared to $88 to $94 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 is down slightly while total domestic gasoline supply is down. Meanwhile, gasoline production continues to rise.

Diesel prices are down slightly this week with the national average at $5.45, down 8 cents from last week, and up from $3.55 a year ago. The New York average for diesel fuel is $5.91, down 1 cent from last week, and up from $3.90 last year.

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 41 cents, the same as last week. New York’s rate is 40 cents, no change from last week. The state is home to 20,751 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.