Gasoline prices decline in most of Mid-Hudson

Average gasoline prices were mostly lower last week in the Mid-Hudson Valley, while the state and national averages held steady, according to GasBuddy.com.

Local averages Monday morning, according to GasBuddy, were $2.81 per gallon in Ulster County, down a penny from a week earlier; $2.91 in Dutchess County, down 2 cents; $2.92 in Greene County, up 3 cents; and $2.79 in Columbia County, down a nickel.

The New York state average Monday was $2.89 per gallon, unchanged from a week earlier, while the national average was $2.85, also unchanged, GasBuddy reported.

“Gas prices have remained largely stable in the last week across much of the country ... far removed from the fast pace of increases we saw earlier this year,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy.

“Gasoline demand has given up ground for the second straight week, likely due to some areas seeing a rise in coronavirus cases, and as spring break plans conclude,” De Haan added. “The next trend in gas prices isn’t evident just yet; we may see additional slight sideways moves in the weeks ahead, until either demand starts to increase notably again or we see the opposite.”

New York state’s average gasoline price Monday was 2.1 lower than a month earlier but 68.5 cents higher than a year ago, according to GasBuddy. The national average was 2.2 cents lower than a month ago but a sharp $1.07 higher than a year ago.

Over the past five years, the average gasoline prices on April 19 in New York state have been: $2.20 per gallon in 2020; $2.85 in 2019, $2.84 in 2018, $2.52 in 2017 and $2.26 in 2016. For live fuel price averages, go to fuelinsights.gasbuddy. com.