Long Island’s cheapest gas is right in Calverton
Gas prices may be steadily rising across the U.S., but at least Riverhead residents won’t have to travel far to find the cheapest fuel on Long Island.
The Gulf gas station on Route 25 in Calverton was tied with a Bay Shore gas station for the lowest regular gas price Thursday at $3.05 a gallon — nearly 15 cents below the statewide average — according to www.longislandgasprices.com. The Calverton Gulf was also tied with nine other gas stations statewide for the third lowest regular gas price in all of New York State.
Gulf manager Preet Singh said the station is able to keep its prices low because the owner runs a total of 45 gas stations and can buy his gas in bulk and at a better price.
“Since he can get a better price for himself, he passes on a better price to his customers,” Mr. Singh said.
When told Gulf had the best price in Suffolk County today, customer Christine Norberg said “Oh, I know. That’s why I’m here.”
The Valero station on Depot Lane in Cutchogue was tied with another Long Island gas station for second place at $3.07 a gallon for regular gas Thursday morning, according to the website. The station also tied for cheapest midgrade gas at $3.19 per gallon.
But by 2 p.m. the regular gas price at Valero had risen by two cents.
At $3.09 per gallon, the Valero station was tied for third lowest regular gas price with the Citgo on Route 25 in Calverton, the Sunoco on Route 25 near the intersection with Route 25A also in Calverton and several other gas stations.
“We are not making much money off fuel at all this point,” said Valero owner Robert Chase. He said the gas station is keeping fuel prices low in the hopes that customers will remain loyal after prices stabilize.
“We’ve always been competitive,” he said. “We’re trying to hold onto the cost and keep it low as long as we can.”
The highest price for regular gas was listed at $3.89 at nine gas stations across the island.
The national average for regular gas was $2.958 as of Monday, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That is up just over ten cents from the previous Monday and up 32 cents from this time last year.
The average cost for regular gas in New York was $3.196, up five cents from last week and up 35 cents from this time last year, according to the EIA.
