NY gas prices drop to lowest average in nearly a year

Gas prices in New York continued to drop this week, falling to their lowest average since January 2022.

Nationwide, this is the sixth week in a row that gas prices have fallen as oil prices remained steady, according to AAA.

The national average cost of a gallon of gas fell to $3.14, 12 cents less than last week’s price. After nearly two months of declining, gas prices have now dipped below $3 in about 20 states, AAA said.

Unfortunately, the tri-state area is not in those 20 states, with drivers in New York now paying an average of just $3.46 per gallon for regular gas, drivers in New Jersey paying $3.25, and Connecticut seeing the lowest price at $3.17.

“The cost of oil, gasoline’s main ingredient, has been hovering in the low-to-mid $70s per barrel, and that’s $50 less than the peak last Spring,” Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson, said. “Combined with low seasonal demand, gas prices could slide a bit more before leveling off.”

Gas prices are currently at their cheapest level since 2021. Gas prices could rise alongside oil prices.

The steady drop in gas prices has helped Americans save about $750 million daily, according to Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

“Fuel prices across the board have been plunging back into territory more Americans feel is normal, which could certainly boost economic sentiment going forward,” De Haan said.

However, those savings could soon erode as oil prices increase again.

On Monday, West Texas Intermediate crude oil increased $1.47 per barrel to $75.76 – almost $4 higher than last Monday’s $71.85 per barrel price – in light of the news that China is reopening its economy, according to GasBuddy.

Brent crude oil rose by $1.46 to $80.50 per barrel, roughly $4 higher than last Monday’s price of $76.32 per barrel.

De Haan said that as drivers head into Christmas travel week, they’ll find gas prices at their lowest “in a year and a half.”

“While the decline should take the national average under $3 per gallon in the next week or so, it is soon likely to fade as oil prices have held in the $70 per barrel range,” DeHaan said.

One fallout from lower gas prices is that demand for electric and hybrid vehicles has dropped, according to a recent survey by Insurify.

The survey said drivers were half as likely to consider buying an electric or hybrid vehicle in November as they were four months earlier when gas prices hovered at $5 per gallon.