Rochester gas prices fall for the first time in weeks ahead of Thanksgiving travel

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester’s average gas price fell down to $3.80 per gallon heading into Thanksgiving week. Prices this past week fell by 2 cents after climbing for three weeks in a row.

Rochester has seen a trend of falling gas prices since mid-June, after prices hit an all-time record of $4.99 per gallon. However, during the final week of October, prices rose by 9 cents. Prices in November rose by 3 cents for two straight weeks before the drop this week.

New York State’s average for gas has seen a similar trend. After a months-long downward trend followed by a November climb, prices this week fell by 5 cents to make the average $3.85 per gallon.

Gas prices are falling as 3.5 million New Yorkers are expected to travel during Thanksgiving week, which could set a new record according to AAA. Most New Yorkers are expected to travel by car.

Rochester’s gas prices may be lower than the state’s average but it still ranks near the top for most expensive gas in upstate New York. The only cities that topped Rochester this week were Watertown at $3.91 per gallon and Rome at $3.89 per gallon. Ithaca tied with Rochester, while Buffalo and Syracuse were several cents lower.

Gas prices in Rochester have overtaken the national average for the fourth week in a row. Throughout much of September and October, Rochester’s prices we cheaper than the national average. In November, the tide turned as gas prices in Rochester began rising, while the national average began falling.

Even though both the local and national average fell this week, Rochester’s couldn’t keep up with the massive 11-cent national average drop.

The cheapest gas in Rochester was $3.41 per gallon on Sunday while the most expensive was 68 cents higher, found a GasBuddy’s survey. You can find the cheapest local stations through a link to GasBuddy.

In November, the state and Monroe County gas tax relief entered its fifth month. The tax relief has aimed to save consumers a total of $0.28 per gallon at the pump – $0.16 at the county level and $0.12 at the state level – since June 1.

The gas tax relief will end on December 31 but one assembly member from the Albany area is calling for the tax relief to be extended for another six months.

Gas prices have skyrocketed over the past year because of rapid recovery from the pandemic increased the demand so high that supply couldn’t keep up. Europe’s restrictions on importing Russian oil also scrambled world oil prices, affecting the U.S. even though the U.S. imports very little Russian oil. 

AAA says that prices have fallen this week in part because refineries have resumed production again after being closed for maintenance.

Prices in Rochester are still $0.27 higher than this time last year. The state’s average is still $0.28 higher and the national average is $0.25 higher. You can explore gas price trends on the website for AAA.