Gas prices creep closer to $4 per gallon in WNY

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 August 2023 at 10:25 am

Gas prices are on the rise are getting close to $4 a gallon for regular unleaded in Orleans County and Western New York.

In New York, the average price for regular unleaded is at $3.915 today, while the national average is at $3.851. Both prices are up 2 cents from a  week ago, according to AAA. The average price in New York was at $4.348 a year ago.

Among the Western New York counties the average prices today include:

  • Orleans, $3.830
  • Genesee, $3.862
  • Wyoming, $3.885
  • Livingston, $3.860
  • Monroe,$3.904
  • Niagara, $3.859
  • Erie, $3.884
  • Chautauqua, $3.871
  • Cattaraugus, $3.754
  • Allegany, $3.826

Some counties in northern and eastern New York are at $4 or more. That includes St. Lawrence, Essex, Hamilton, Lewis, Warren, Washington and Greene counties. New York County (Manhattan) has the highest average price at $4.245.

The average diesel price in New York is at $4.55 today, up 9 cents from $4.46 a week ago.

AAA issued the following statement about gas prices:

“The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline has been hovering around $3.82 for the past two weeks, a noteworthy length for price stability. This lack of price movement came despite an uptick in gas demand and rising oil prices approaching the mid-$80s per barrel. “Today’s update shows an increase of 2 cents since last week, possibly indicating that gas prices will bump up. The summer heat that kept people home and suppressed refinery production has eased for now, so we must look at the cost of oil to determine if the recent price climb is ending. More expensive oil will likely lead to higher oil prices. Today’s national average of $3.85 is 29 cents more than a month ago, but 11 cents less than a year ago.

“This morning, diesel prices are up as well. The national average price for diesel is $4.31, up 13 cents from last week, but down from $5.04 a year ago. The New York average for diesel is $4.55, up 9 cents from last week, but still much lower than $5.52 one year ago.”