(WBNG) – Gas prices in New York climbed to their second-highest August average on record this year, second only to August 2022.
Gas prices fell significantly in August 2025, averaging around $3.05 a gallon. This August, prices rose to about $4.20 a gallon, close to the record of around $4.22 set in August 2022.
12News asked drivers in the Southern Tier about the higher prices.
“Like, there’s nothing you can really do. You just have to watch it and cry about it. It’s sad,” said John Ransom, a driver.
“It’s disappointing. I think it’s a bit high. It’s ridiculous. And it keeps climbing, it keeps climbing. I don’t see a decrease and I haven’t seen a decrease in quite a while,” said Ashley Chapman, a driver.
“Hopefully, you know, these gas prices go down soon. You know, there’s a lot of single families, single mothers, single fathers. You know, it’s hard,” said Nichole Watson, a driver.
“A little, ugh, because, you know, in this economy, we don’t get paid a lot, and then gas is like this,” said Alyssa Lurcock, a driver.
12News asked the Southern Tier if the near-record prices were shocking.
“A little bit, yeah. A little bit, definitely,” Chapman said.
Ransom said he noticed prices jump from about $3 and some change to $4.22 within a couple days.
“Not great, because it’s just expensive,” Ransom said.
“That’s insane,” Lurcock said.
Watson said gas prices are outrageous and said everything is going up. She added she pays $4.29 a gallon.
Lurcock drives a 2015 Ram 1500 V8 and said she recently paid $93 for 19 gallons of gas, the most she has ever spent, before her tank was empty. She said she did not drive in 2022 and instead walked to work, so she was not aware of gas prices then. She said prices were more affordable when she got her car in 2023.
Chapman said she signs up for Speedway’s rewards program but said it does not help much because prices are staying high.
Ransom drives a Honda Civic and said he has to fill up often. He said he uses the Speedway Rewards program and other rewards programs to save money, including locking in gas prices before they rise. He said he recently saved seven cents using the program.
Watson said she does not use a rewards program herself, but uses her husband’s points.
Lurcock said she does not use rewards programs but uses Chime, which gives her cash back if her spending goes over a $90 limit.
Drivers said the higher prices are not changing whether they drive, but are changing how much it impacts their wallets.
“I just put $30 in and it didn’t get it to a full tank and it was almost empty. So, probably, like, $40 and it used to be, like, $25, $28,” Ransom said.
Watson said it costs her $45 to $50 to fill up a tank, compared to about $30 during the COVID-19 pandemic. She said the $20 difference could otherwise go toward groceries or other expenses.
Lurcock said half of her paycheck goes to gas and half goes to rent. She said she fills up about five times a month and said her previous fill-up cost $64, compared to $93 this time.
Ransom said he would like to see prices return to around $3.20 to $3.30 a gallon.
The price of gas depends on the type of car and the type of gas a driver uses. Southern Tier drivers told 12News they are feeling the impact, including when it comes to travel.
“I only traveled once this year, and I usually try to travel at least three to two times a year,” Watson said.
Watson said she plans to stay local for Labor Day weekend and said she would not be surprised if gas prices rise further over the holiday.
Valerie Puma, communication specialist with AAA Western and Central New York, said this past August was the second-highest August on record for New York state gas prices, behind August 2022. She said the record dates back to the year 2000, covering more than 26 years of gas price data.
Puma said August is typically a lower-demand month for gas because major summer travel, such as trips around Memorial Day weekend and the Fourth of July, has already happened, and school is starting again. She said lower demand typically brings lower prices in a normal summer.
“Supply and demand does play a really big role in the prices that we see at the pump. But because of the unrest and uncertainty with the Strait of Hormuz and just everything going on in the Middle East, crude oil prices have been pretty high. They’ve been unstable,” Puma said.
Puma said crude oil prices have been volatile and change week to week, and gas prices in the U.S. typically follow crude oil prices closely because crude oil makes up a significant portion of the price of a gallon of regular gasoline.
“With gasoline prices, they tend to shoot up like a rocket. But when they’re coming back down, they tend to fall like a feather,” Puma said.
Puma said even if conditions were to improve immediately, including the Strait of Hormuz reopening and crude oil prices returning to pre-February levels, pump prices would not drop for several weeks because gas stations would still need to sell off fuel they purchased at higher rates. She said dropping demand after Labor Day weekend could also slow the timeline for lower prices.
Puma said she has not seen a drop in people’s interest in traveling despite high prices, though some people may be staying closer to home or adjusting their budgets, such as by eating at home instead of eating out during trips.
AAA said drivers should not expect prices to drop overnight.
“It’s hard to say when gas prices will go back down. We can never really predict it. We just kind of keep it. We try to keep an eye on those crude oil prices and really how things are going overseas,” Puma said.
Puma recommended drivers download the AAA mobile app, which she said is free and does not require AAA membership or a login. She said the app shows nearby gas stations and electric vehicle charging stations along with current prices, which can help drivers plan where to fill up, including while on road trips.
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