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Capital Region motorists are getting a break at the pump, with gas prices holding remarkably steady heading into late February.
According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in the Capital Region currently sits at $2.98 — unchanged from last week and just two cents higher than what drivers were paying one month ago. The stability is a welcome sign for local drivers, especially as prices elsewhere begin to climb.
New York State's average is slightly higher at $3.00 per gallon. Nationally, the average has risen to $2.93 per gallon, reflecting a broader seasonal trend as refineries begin switching over to summer-blend fuel production.
The Saratogian reported that Capital Region prices are still running more than 21 cents per gallon below where they were at this same point last year, offering shoppers and commuters meaningful savings compared to 2025.
For those hunting the best deal, GasBuddy's survey of 546 stations in Albany found the cheapest local station priced at $2.69 per gallon, while the most expensive was $3.19 — a 50-cent spread. Statewide, prices ranged from a low of $2.40 to a high of $4.19 per gallon.
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said seasonal forces are starting to build. "The national average price of gasoline only edged slightly higher last week, but nine of the ten largest weekly price movements were increases, led by West Coast states as California begins the transition to summer gasoline," De Haan told the Saratogian. "Most states saw relatively minor fluctuations, but we're now starting to see seasonal trends take hold on the West Coast, with those pressures expected to gradually push eastward in the weeks ahead."
De Haan added a note of caution for drivers looking ahead. "Even though oil prices slipped slightly last week amid reduced geopolitical risk, strengthening seasonal factors are likely to intensify, potentially driving the national average back above the $3-per-gallon mark, where prices could remain for at least part of the spring."
For context, the Troy Record noted that as recently as early February, Capital Region prices were averaging $2.96 per gallon — meaning the region has seen only a modest two-cent uptick over the past three weeks.
The most expensive gasoline markets in the country right now are Hawaii at $4.40 per gallon, California at $4.39, and Washington state at $3.97. The cheapest states are Oklahoma at $2.36, Arkansas at $2.44, and Texas at $2.45.
For electric vehicle drivers, the national average cost at public charging stations remains stable at 38 cents per kilowatt hour.
Looking ahead, analysts say Capital Region drivers should expect gradual price increases as spring approaches, driven by the seasonal refinery transition and tightening crude oil supplies. U.S. crude oil inventories recently fell by 3.5 million barrels and now sit roughly 4% below the five-year average for this time of year — a dynamic that could push pump prices higher in the weeks to come.