Rising gas prices affecting summer travel plans

KINGSTON, N.Y. » Average retail gasoline prices in New York have risen 5 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.03 per gallon Sunday.

This compares with the national average, which has increased 4.3 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.92, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

Including the change in gas prices in New York during the past week, prices Sunday were 55.3 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 17 cents per gallon higher than a month ago.

The national average has increased 16.1 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 56.8 cents per gallon higher than this day a year ago.

According to GasBuddy historical data, gasoline prices on May 21 in New York have ranged widely over the last five years: $2.48 per gallon in 2017, $2.41 per gallon in 2016, $2.85 per gallon in 2015, $3.87 per gallon in 2014 and $3.74 per gallon in 2013.

Summer travel is poised to plunge as a result of high gas prices, according to GasBuddy’s 2018 Summer Travel survey. According to the annual survey, only 58 percent of respondents said they will take a road trip this summer, a 24 percent decrease from last year, while 39 percent cited high gas prices for impacting their summer travel decisions, compared to 19 percent in 2017.

“For all those that have said summer travel will be unaffected, we offer thousands of respondents who have strongly indicated that’s not true, especially as gas prices continue to climb,” said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. “For the first time in years, the annual GasBuddy Summer Travel Survey revealed that higher prices are hurting the tradition of the summer road trip as we near a national average of $3 per gallon. It’s no shock, as we continue to see price hikes in 49 of the nation’s 50 states in the last week. And what rings true is that, with such a big jump in prices, motorists are absolutely becoming more price-conscious as they make plans this summer. High gas prices are starting to eat away at the travel plans of many, and the number will likely rise as gasoline prices appear poised to continue moving higher in the weeks ahead.”

For live fuel price averages, visit ttp://FuelInsights.GasBuddy.com.

Prices Sunday were 55.3 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 17 cents per gallon higher than a month ago.