Summary

In response to a congressional request, GAO analyzed reasons for differences in petroleum product prices in Cattaraugus County and other areas of western New York State.

GAO found that wide fluctuations in gasoline prices in any geographic area are a result of free market supply and demand conditions which have become a greater influence on prices since federal controls were removed in January 1981. Even though a geographic area may be experiencing higher prices than it has previously experienced, GAO noted that these prices can be relatively low when compared with prices in other areas of the country.