The arrival of winter blend gasoline to the regional market is helping push pump prices lower across the Northeast. Winter blend, which is cheaper to manufacture than summer blend, became available at wholesale terminals on Sept. 15. Typically, the switchover results in a modest price drop within days as the fuel makes its way to the retail market.
The price declines are being aided by crude oil prices, which remain in the low $60 a barrel range as concerns grow among market participants that planned production increases in the coming months could result in global oil oversupply. Both OPEC and the International Energy Agency (IEA) last week issued forecasts that point to more-than-expected supply in 2026, which helped send oil prices lower to end the week.
Domestically, oil supplies are far from an oversupply situation, according to the most-recent data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Driven by higher exports and lower imports, inventories of crude oil approached a yearly low last week, falling by a sizable 9.3 million barrels, the EIA reported. Oil holdings are now 2.2 million barrels below the comparable level of last year and more than 20 million barrels below the 5-year average.
National gasoline inventories also fell by 2.3 million barrels last week, according to the EIA. Coupled with demand rising a healthy 300,000 barrels a day to 8.8 million barrels a day, the tightening of gasoline inventories could slow the seasonal pace of price declines. Regionally, recent operational issues at PBF Energy’s 180,000 barrel-a-day Delaware City refinery could be adding some local pressure on pump prices.
“As winter blend takes over gasoline markets, drivers in the Northeast are starting to see some savings at the pump,” said Mark Schieldrop, senior spokesperson for AAA Northeast. “Tightening supplies of gasoline could be slowing the pace of price declines, but supplies are still not at levels to raise alarm, for now.”
AAA Northeast’s Sept. 24 survey of fuel prices found the current national average down 4 cents from last week ($3.20), averaging $3.16 per gallon. The national average price is a penny higher than month ago ($3.15) and 5 cents lower than this day last year ($3.21).
| Region | Current Price* | One Week Ago | One Month Ago | One Year Ago |
| Massachusetts | $3.09 | $3.12 | $3.05 | $3.13 |
| Rhode Island | $3.09 | $3.15 | $3.03 | $3.01 |
| Connecticut | $3.16 | $3.17 | $3.10 | $3.13 |
| New Jersey | $3.11 | $3.13 | $3.06 | $3.03 |
| New York | $3.22 | $3.24 | $3.15 | $3.29 |
*Prices as of Sept 24, 2025
As of Sept. 24, Oklahoma and Mississippi have the lowest prices in the nation at $2.67 and $2.69, respectively. California and Washington hold the highest prices in the nation this week at $4.65 and $4.58, respectively.
The AAA Gas Prices website is your resource for up-to-date fuel price information. Search for average gas prices on national, state and metro levels by regular, plus, premium and diesel.
Mark Schieldrop is a senior spokesperson for AAA Northeast. Based in Rhode Island, Mark is regularly interviewed on topics ranging from travel to traffic safety and is also a certified child passenger safety technician.
