Gas prices up a penny in Orleans, 2 cents in NYS

The price for regular unleaded gas is up nearly a penny in Orleans County since a week ago, going from $3.376 on March 25 to $3.383 today, AAA reported today.

Nationally, the average price is up a penny to $3.54, while the average price statewide is at $3.45, up 2 cents from a week ago. A year ago, the national price was $3.50 and statewide the average was $3.47.

Here are the average prices in counties around WNY today:

• Orleans, $3.383
• Genesee, $3.361
• Wyoming, $3.406
• Livingston, $3.407
• Monroe, $3.384
• Niagara, $3.318
• Erie, $3.385
• Chautauqua, $3.533
• Cattaraugus, $3.455
• Allegany, $3.502

AAA issued this statement about gas prices:

“After an early spring surge, the national average for a gallon of gasoline spent last week drifting up and down by a fraction of a cent before settling on $3.54. But this break may be temporary, as gas pump prices will likely resume their typical spring increase.

“ Uncertainty of the impact of Ukraine’s targeting of Russia’s oil infrastructure likely spiked oil prices recently, but those concerns have already abated somewhat for now. Gas prices are settling back into a pattern similar to last year when the usual seasonal increase was slow and steady.

“The upward trend in gas prices is not unusual this time of year. Another critical factor is the arrival of more expensive summer blend gas, which tends to increase pump prices by 10 to 15 cents. That transition is underway in some parts of the country.

“Nationally, gas demand dipped slightly last week as domestic supply increased. Lower demand would typically contribute to pushing pump prices lower or slowing increases, but rising oil prices have kept them elevated instead.

“Diesel prices remain relatively steady. The national average price for diesel is $4.02, down two cents from last Monday. The New York average is $4.40, no change from a week ago.”