Long Islanders feel impact as gas prices climb
Gas prices are climbing across Long Island as tensions in the Middle East push global oil prices higher.
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Drivers across Long Island are seeing higher prices at the pump as global tensions push fuel costs upward.
Massive lines of cars waited their turn to fill up at the BJ’s gas station in Westbury Wednesday night. Gas there was going for $2.85 a gallon, and many drivers were taking advantage before prices potentially climb even higher.
But for Nick Grenier, the rising prices are not causing much concern.
"Obviously, we have a problem going on in the Middle East. And prices will be affected a little bit. I'm expecting them to come back down to normal, or even better," Grenier said.
It was less crowded at the 7/11 gas station in Bethpage, where gas was going for $2.69 a gallon, one of the cheapest prices on Long Island.
Kunal Patel said he was able to get an even bigger discount by using promotions through the 7/11 app, bringing his price to $2.26 a gallon.
"You get the 7/11 app and you save 11 cents. And then every time I come there is another text that says text 7-1-1 and you'll get 25 cents off you're next three fill ups per gallon," Patal said.
According to AAA, the average gas price on Long Island is now $3 a gallon, up 14 cents since last week. The national average currently sits at $3.19.
AAA spokesperson Robert Sinclair says tensions in the Middle East are one factor driving prices up, but seasonal changes in fuel production are also playing a role.
"Refineries have to shut down temporarily to retool to produce summer blends which are more expensive to refine and complicated to distribute which makes them more expensive," Sinclair said.
Sinclair says once the conflict eases, prices could begin to fall again.
