Gasoline prices rise on Long Island, AAA says
A customer pumps a gas at a station on Elmont Road and Linden Boulevard in Elmont in July. Credit: Kendall Rodriguez
Drivers may notice it's costing more to fill up at the pump as gasoline prices have spiked since last year.
Prices at the pump in Suffolk and Nassau counties hit an average of $3.39 a gallon for regular gas Sunday, a jump from last year’s $2.18 average price, according to the AAA. The average price was $3.29 a month ago, $3.32 a week ago, and $3.38 Saturday.
The average cost of a gallon of regular gas in the state on Sunday was $3.42 a gallon while the national average was $3.32.
AAA says the highest average price ever recorded on Long Island was $4.35 back on July 8, 2008.
The jump in gasoline prices comes as crude oil is twice what it was at this time last year. It closed above $80 per barrel this week for the first time since 2014. The cost of crude oil affects the retail price of gasoline.
Energy commodities dropped to multi-years lows in 2020 during pandemic shutdowns but demand has now outpaced production.
Heating bills this winter also should increase significantly, according a report released Wednesday by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Consumers are expected to be hit by a one-two punch of higher fuel costs and a colder winter boosting energy consumption.
Homes in the United States using heating oil could see a 43% increase in expenditures this winter compared to a year ago, while homes with natural gas heat could pay an average of 30% more and electric heat homes 6% more, the report said. Heating costs for homes that use propane for heat are forecast to rise a chill-inducing 54%.
With AP
