SYRACUSE -- Some unexpected good news for Central New York drivers for the holidays - it may cost you less to get to Grandma's house this year. That's because for the first time in a long time gas prices are starting to fall.
According to SyracuseGasPrices.com, the price of an average gallon of regular gasoline in Syracuse actually dropped 1.1 cents in the past week to $3.16. That's the good news.
Here is the bad: The price of gas in Syracuse is still eight cents higher than it was a month ago, and almost 40 cents higher than it was this time last year.
Art Hayes, of the Service Station Operators Association, says though prices are stable now they could jump back up without warning at any time.
So why the roller coaster ride when it comes to gas prices? Hayes says speculators influence gas prices much more now than ever before.
"20 years ago this never happened. Gas was a dollar a gallon. If it moved a whole nickel in a year, it was unusual. Now it moves a nickel in a day," he says.
For a listing of local gas prices, visit our "Gas Buddy" page.
