The national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $4.15, up 7 cents from last Monday. One year ago, the price was $3.19. The New York State average is $4.31, up 10 cents from last Monday. A year ago, the NYS average was $3.26. AAA Western and Central New York (AAA WCNY) reports the following averages:

• Batavia - $4.28 (up 8 cents from last Monday)
• Buffalo - $4.28 (up 6 cents from last Monday)
• Elmira - $4.20 (up 13 cents from last Monday)
• Ithaca - $4.28 (up 6 cents from last Monday)
• Rochester - $4.27 (up 3 cents from last Monday)
• Rome - $4.30 (up 7 cents from last Monday)
• Syracuse - $4.23 (up 7 cents from last Monday)
• Watertown - $4.33 (up 9 cents from last Monday)

Labor Day 2026 brought the highest gas prices ever for the holiday with the national average price for a gallon of gasoline hitting $4.31. Until this year, the national average was never above $4 per gallon on Labor Day. The previous Labor Day record was $3.82, set on September 3, 2012. Continued volatility in the Strait of Hormuz has pushed crude oil prices up. This morning, oil prices range from $94 to $99 per barrel.

Labor Day travel drove up demand for gasoline with travelers taking advantage of the last long holiday weekend of the summer season. Back-to-school season will mean more drivers out on the roads feeling that pain at the pump.

Diesel prices are at an all-time record high. The national average is $5.90, up 30 cents from last week. Last year at this time, the national average price for diesel fuel was $3.70. The New York average for diesel fuel is $5.92, up 18 cents from last week, and up from $3.92 last year.

When it comes to EV charging, the national average for L2 commercial electricity remains steady. Today’s national average per kilowatt-hour of electricity at a public EV charging station is 42 cents. New York’s rate is 40 cents. The state is home to 21,025 chargers. An estimated 1.2 million AAA members live in households with one or more electric vehicles. The 2026 AAA Car Guide shows renewed interest in electric vehicles amid high pump prices.

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.