N.Y.-area gas prices float near $4

Scorching temperatures aren't the only thing making people sweat this summer.

The average price for a regular gallon in the New York City area climbed to $3.93 on Tuesday, while the national average stood at $3.63, according to GasBuddy.com.

"Last year, prices peaked back in April," said Gregg Laskoski, oil analyst for GasBuddy. "They were actually on a downward trend after the Fourth of July. This year we're seeing prices all across the country going up."

Unrest in Egypt, coupled with the summer driving season, has contributed to the steady increase, experts say.

Ongoing political conflict in Egypt raises concern about access to the Suez Canal, which is used to transport millions of barrels of oil to Europe each day. A disruption to Europe's supply could affect the United States, Laskoski said.

Though the New York City metro average hovers just under $4, local drivers have been paying even more at some stations. Joe Branco, 25, filled up Monday at the full-service Shell station in Bedford, where the cash price was $4.59 a gallon.

"Locals know to avoid this station, and if you ask people here they are probably not from the area," he said.

Still, "I don't really shop around," he said. "When you do the math, it's not worth it."

Richard Dixon, 47, wasn't pleased with his bill at the Mobil station in West Nyack.

"I just filled my Kia Rio today —10 gallons for about $40 — it's getting ridiculous in this area," he said.

The station was charging $4.09 a gallon if motorists paid with cash or $4.19 with credit.

Peter Kischak, president of the Service Station Dealers of Greater New York, argued that the problem stems from gas distributors, not local station operators. Based on a station's geographic location, distributors charge operators different prices for the same fuel. Station operators charged more for their supply pass that along to drivers. The state has a ban on "zone pricing" for gasoline, but the existing law's vague language has made it difficult to enforce, the state attorney general has said. Bills to the amend it have been unsuccessful.

"It only gets publicity when the price goes up," Kischak said. "When the public has an outcry, the politicians react."

Experts say if the price of crude oil continues to rise — it was $106 a barrel on Tuesday — drivers shouldn't expect a break just yet.