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MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. While gas prices typically drop in the weeks following Labor Day, Mount Vernon residents may have noticed theres been no relief at the pump recently.
Though the summer driving season is over, New Yorkers continue to pay among the most money for gas, averaging $4.12 per gallon tied with Connecticut for the second most in the nation, trailing only California, which pays $4.67 per gallon (prices for regular as of Wednesday, Oct. 10).
AAA New York spokesperson Robert Sinclair Jr. said, however, that the situation is going to change.
Relief should be in sight. It might take weeks, but it should be in sight, he said. Were out of the summer driving season, and we dont have the same demand. That said, were still vulnerable because were in hurricane season until Nov. 30, and whatever goes on overseas can have an effect on us.
He also said stations have switched to the cheaper winter blend gas, which will help hold prices down.
Sinclair said the East and West coasts are experiencing inventory problems, which are leading to the increased gas prices.
The rest of the country is seeing prices drop, but were experiencing spikes on both coasts, he said. The prices flattened for awhile, but then they jumped up because of refinery and inventory issues.
Nationally, prices have settled at $3.81 per gallon, down approximately 2 cents from a month ago. However, prices in New York have risen 12 cents as the state deals with the lack of inventory.
'For our region, we just dont have the inventory to deal with the demand, Sinclair said. We just have to deal with surges in the market when they happen.
Locally, the cheapest gas can still be found at Gulf on Columbus Avenue, for $4.09 a gallon as well as a Citgo station on E. 3rd Street for the same price.
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