Gas Prices Rising In New York: When To Expect Relief At The Pump

NEW YORK — If you’ve noticed gasoline prices have been going up in New York, you’re not alone.

Average gas prices have increased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia as of Friday, AAA reported. The national average, at $2.75 per gallon, is a 3-cent increase just from Monday.

The price is up from $2.456 a month ago and 35 cents more than this time last year, according to a AAA report. It’s the most expensive daily average since August 2019.

It shows no signs of stopping soon. The average national gas price could hit $2.80 by the end of March, a AAA projection shows, and as usual, New York is ahead of the curve.

Statewide, the average price for regular gas is already $2.814 per gallon, while midgrade gas is going for a $3.09 average and premium gas for $3.32, AAA reported. Around the NYC metro area, regular gas prices as of Friday were:

• Dutchess-Putnam: $2.815
• Kingston: $2.783
• Nassau-Suffolk: $2.786
• White Plains: $2.89

New York's not the worst. AAA reported that since last Thursday, the 10 states that saw the largest increases in their averages were: Utah (+20 cents), Colorado (+13 cents), Wyoming (+12 cents), Idaho (+12 cents), Arizona (+12 cents), Nevada (+11 cents), Kansas (+10 cents), Oklahoma (+10 cents), New Mexico (+10 cents) and Florida (+9 cents).

Part of the reason for the gas price increase is the winter storm that crippled Texas and much of the American South in February. Twenty-six U.S. refineries were pushed offline, as refinery utilization went from the average 83 percent to 68 percent, AAA reported, citing information from the Energy Information Administration.

“Barring hurricane season, March may bring the most expensive pump prices of 2021,” said Jeanette Casselano McGee, a AAA spokesperson. “While the month is roaring in like a lion, by the end of it we could see some relief at the pump as refineries resume normal operations.”

It’s not likely to come right away.