Gasoline prices steady in Mid-Hudson but higher in US, New York state

Average gasoline prices were higher last week in New York state and the nation, but remained mostly steady in the Mid-Hudson Valley, according to GasBuddy.com.

Local averages Monday morning, according to GasBuddy, were $2.22 in Ulster County, down a cent from a week earlier; $2.29 in Dutchess County, up one cent; $2.33 in Greene County, unchanged; and $2.26 in Columbia County, down two cents.

The New York state average Monday was $2.30 per gallon, up 2.2 cents, while the national average was $2.21, up 4.8 cents, GasBuddy reported.

“The sudden spike in gas prices last week was brought on by a continued rise in the price of oil, which jumped last week to nearly $50 per barrel, the highest we’ve seen since March, when prices collapsed due

to COVID-19. While last week’s gas price surge isn’t likely to repeat this week, it could be a sign of things to come in the year ahead,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy.

“A weakening U.S. dollar and vaccine optimism continued to push oil higher last week, along with stock markets,” De Haan said. “While some are wrongly pointing to the coming shift in the White House as driving up prices, I can assure motorists that what we’re seeing has nothing to do with such a change and everything to do with market optimism that demand will rise, and the weaker dollar which makes oil cheaper to anyone holding non- dollar currencies, putting upward pressure on demand.”

New York state’s average gasoline price Monday was 4.8 cents higher from a month ago and 39.9 cents lower than a year ago, according to GasBuddy. The national average was 9.8 cents higher than a month ago and 34.5 cents lower than a year ago.

Over the past five years, the average gasoline prices on Dec. 21 in New York state have been: $2.70 per gallon in 2019, $2.71 in 2018, $2.63 in 2017, $2.44 in 2016 and $2.24 in 2015.

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