Gas prices in Rochester drop slightly over past four weeks

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Gas prices in Rochester have dropped slightly over the past four weeks, matching a trend seen at the national and state levels.

Monday’s average gas price in Rochester is $3.42 per gallon according to AAA. That’s 2 cents lower than a week ago and 9 cents lower than a month ago. New York State has a similar average currently, at $3.43 per gallon, which is 12 cents lower than a month ago.

Prices in Rochester have seen a declining trend since hitting an all-time record of $4.99 per gallon in mid-June. Prices rapidly dropped last summer and fall but the drop has slowed down this winter.

Prices were expected to jump up significantly, $0.22 per gallon or more, after Dec. 31 because the gas tax relief ended. The relief aimed to save consumers $0.06 at the Monroe County level and $0.16 at the state level.

However, prices have continued their declining trend. That could indicate that middlemen absorbed the benefits of the tax relief instead of consumers, which a study Institute of Taxation and Economic Policy warned about.

Monday’s national average, at $3.41 per gallon, is only 1 cent lower than Rochester’s. A month ago, that difference was 3 cents. Unlike the average for Rochester and the state, the national average increased this week by 4 cents but it has still declined overall compared to a month ago.

Rochester’s gas prices on Monday are 1 cent lower than in Syracuse but six cents higher compared to Buffalo. Rome had the most expensive gas in upstate New York at $3.48 while Batavia took the prize for the lowest at $3.34 per gallon.

The cheapest gas in Rochester this week was $3.15 per gallon on Sunday while the most expensive was 54 cents higher, found a GasBuddy’s survey. You can find the cheapest local stations through a link to GasBuddy.

The average gas price is cheaper for the state, Rochester, and nation compared to a year ago. You can explore gas price trends on the website for AAA.