BUFFALO, N.Y. — Many Western New Yorkers were hoping to wake up to lower gas prices.
The hopes were inconsistently squandered as new records were set overnight for the price of a gallon of gas.
According to AAA, the national average jumped to $4.63 per gallon and the New York State average is $4.93. In Buffalo, the average is $4.83 per gallon and some stations remain close to the $5/gallon threshold despite the gas tax cap being in effect for the state and Erie County.
The continued rise in crude oil, as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent sanctions against the Russian Federation, remains the main culprit of the high costs.
"Unfortunately, prices have been increasing so much," said Elizabeth Carey, director for public relations at AAA of Western and Central New York. "You know, it's not much of a relief."
Carey says we should have seen an immediate drop in prices, but depending on when a gas station bought its supply and how much of it remains is why consumers are seeing inconsistent prices from station to station.
2 On Your Side crews saw several gas stations ranging between $4.40/gallon and $4.95/gallon.
"We should be saving 16 cents a gallon because the New York State eliminated its sales tax and excise tax," Carey said. "Then depending on if your area, another five to 11 cents, based on the local county sales tax."
Carey says most gas stations in WNY should be resupplied by the end of the week.
"So there should be a little bit of relief coming, it just, everyone's kind of waiting for it,"
Assuming the price of oil doesn't continue to climb.
Erie County is also monitoring gas stations. County Executive Mark Poloncarz said staff from the Weights and Measures department has been checking stations to ensure gauging isn't happening.
"We sent them out the last couple of weeks to various gas stations across Erie County to see what they were selling at, especially in the last few days," Poloncarz said. "Now we want to see are they reducing their price?"
"If we see or hear of issues of price gouging, we will go after those retailers," Poloncarz said.
Poloncarz urged consumers, if they suspect gauging, to reach out to the county Weights and Measures staff, or contact the attorney general.
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