Gas prices in Ulster remain under state, national averages

Average gasoline prices were slightly down last week in New York while continuing to fall in the country, according to GasBuddy.com, while prices in Ulster County ticked up but remained below state and national averages.

Local average Monday morning, according to GasBuddy, were $2,149 in Ulster County, up 0.7 cents from a week earlier; $2.258 in Dutchess, down 1.9 cents; $2.326 in Greene, down 1. 7 cents; and $2.194 in Columbia, up 1.5 cents.

The New York state average Monday morning was $2.26 per gallon, down 0.7 cents, while the national average fell 2.9 cents per gallon, to $2.15, GasBuddy reported.

“Gas prices have continued to remain subdued in large part due to the stalemate in Washington that’s holding back another round of stimulus for Americans, which could boost the economy and oil demand and help Americans get back to work,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy.

“Absent some resolve from lawmakers to boost the economy, we’re likely in store for another week of sideways price movements, keeping average gas prices near current levels for the fourth straight month. We may continue to see us stuck in this territory until there’s meaningful change in our COVID-19 outlook,” De Haan said.

New York state’s average gas price Monday was 2.6 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and 44 cents lower than a year ago, according to GasBuddy. The national average was 1.7 cents per gallon lower than a month ago and 50 cents lower than a year ago.

Over the past five years, the average gasoline prices on Oct. 19 in New York state have been: $2.70 per gallon in 2019, $2.99 in 2018, $2.66 in 2017, $2.36 in 2016 and $2.37 in 2015.