Gas prices inch up in N.Y.; national increase is larger

The average retail gasoline price in New York state rose 0.3 cents per gallon last week, reaching $2.66 on Sunday.

In the Kingston-Ulster area Monday afternoon, most gas stations were selling 87-octane unleaded for $2.55 per gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

“With oil prices rallying to their highest level since 2014, it’s no surprise that gasoline prices continue to show frustrating strength for this time of year,” said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. “While winter is usually a time for modest declines at the pump, this year has seen anything but.

“While two years ago, areas of the country flirted with sub-$1 gas prices, we now see most areas more than double that,” DeHaan added. “One bright spot, however, is that gasoline production remains very strong at a time of year when it tends to be weak, and that could open the door for some larger discounts in the weeks ahead as refiners begin to move winter gasoline out of inventories to prepare for the transition to cleaner burning gasoline.”

New York’s state’s average gas price Sunday was 1.9 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and 14.5 cents higher than a year ago.

The national average on Sunday was $2.52 per gallon, up 3.2 cents from a week earlier, 9 cents from a month ago and 18.7 cents from a year ago.

According to GasBuddy historical data, gasoline prices on Jan. 15 in New York have ranged widely over the last five years: $2.52 per gallon in 2017, $2.15 in 2016, $2.55 in 2015, $3.64 in 2014 and $3.73 in 2013.