Little change in local, statewide gas prices

But an industry analyst expects costs to start drifting upward soon, as already has happened with oil.

Gasoline prices prices held mostly steady over the past week in the MidHudson Valley, while there was no change in the statewide average and a slight increase nationwide, according to GasBuddy.com.

Locally, according to GasBuddy, average prices Monday morning were $2.76 per gallon in Ulster County (down 2 cents from a week earlier), $2.92 in Dutchess County (up 3 cents), $2.83 in Greene County (up 4 cents) and $2.77 in Columbia County (down a penny).

The statewide average Monday was $2.86 per gallon, unchanged from a week earlier, GasBuddy reported. The national average was $2.79 per gallon, up 3.3 cents.

“For the third straight week, the national average price of gasoline has risen, following oil prices higher due to global geopolitical tensions, declining oil inventories and Hurricane Barry shutting oil production in Gulf [of Mexico] waters,” said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. “With Barry in the rearview, we are unlikely to see major disruptions arise, and gas prices nationally will avoid seeing much of a price rise as a result. However, prices may continue to drift higher as oil prices last week retook the critical $60 per barrel barrier . ...

“While the trend for most states will be rising prices again this week, there may be a brief respite in the weeks ahead as worries over global growth persist, leading the U.S. Federal Reserve to rethink cutting interest rates,” DeHaan added.

New York state’s average gas price Monday was 0.5 cents per gallon higher than a month earlier but 13.3 cents lower than a year ago. The national average Monday was 11.4 cents per gallon higher than a month ago but 8.5 cents lower than a year ago.

Average gasoline prices on July 15 in New York have ranged widely over the last five years: $2.99 per gallon in 2018, $2.41 in 2017, $2.37 in 2016, $2.93 in 2015 and $3.90 in 2014.

For live fuel price averages, go to fuelinsights.gasbuddy.com.