Gas, fuel oil, propane, food all on the rise

County residents feeling the pinch

By Zoey McGee | For Manor Ink

Sullivan County, NY – Over the last couple of years, people in Livingston Manor and throughout the county have been dealing with rising gas and energy prices. What started as price increases after the pandemic has continued because of inflation, energy shortages and global supply issues.

The increase can be seen in just about everything. In March 2026, home heating oil prices in New York went up about 39 percent from the year before. As of April 2026, heating oil prices in Livingston Manor were around $4.70 per gallon. Electricity prices have also stayed high, with residents paying about 22 cents per kilowatt-hour, around 11 percent higher than the national average. So, along with the price of gas, which at the Citgo and Sunoco in the Manor is around $4.60 per gallon, many families are struggling to keep up with basic expenses.

Getting to work also more costly

This is not only difficult for all working individuals, but especially for people living in rural areas like Sullivan County, where commuting to work is common. Unlike larger cities, most people here cannot rely on public transportation or jobs that are only a few minutes away. Many people drive 30 minutes or more each way just to get to work, and with gas prices continuing to rise, those daily drives are becoming more expensive than ever.

Younger people in particular are feeling the pressure. Many younger workers are already making lower wages while trying to balance rent, food, bills and school expenses. In our region, having a car is almost required to keep a job, but maintaining a vehicle is already expensive enough. Between car payments, insurance, repairs and regular maintenance, gas prices only add more stress to people’s budgets. For many, fuel costs are becoming one of the biggest monthly expenses.

The rise in gas prices could also affect local businesses in Livingston Manor and the Catskills. Many businesses rely mostly on visitor traffic during the summer months. With higher fuel prices, some people may decide to skip summer road trips or travel less often, which could hurt small businesses that depend on those seasonal visitors.

Tourists may be undeterred

Still, there is some optimism for the summer season. According to the CEO of the Sullivan County Visitors Association, Michael Martelon, “We’re benefiting from two different tailwinds simultaneously. Drive-market travelers are leaning into the stay-closer-to-home mindset, and our destination delivers real value there. At the same time, the quality of what Sullivan Catskills offers today: the farms, the arts, the landscape, continues to draw visitors from well beyond the region who have made this a deliberate destination of choice, regardless of what’s happening at the pump. So it’s a bit of a balancing act.”

This may come as some relief to local business owners. Martelon also said, “Our vacation rental data tells an encouraging story. Occupancy is running just ahead of last year, average daily rates are up over three percent, and that’s translating to a meaningful gain in overall revenue per available room. Travelers may be more intentional about where they spend, but they’re still spending, and they’re choosing Sullivan County.”

The how and why of gas prices

What causes a gallon of gas at your local gas station to fluctuate, often immediately following events happening a world away? One day the price at the pump is one amount, and the next time you pull in, it’s ten, twenty, even thirty cents more. This can seem at best capricious, and at worst, perhaps a bit shady.

But a lot goes into the cost of gasoline. While station owners do keep an eye on the market and often charge what they see other vendors charging, fuel costs are tied directly to the price of oil, according to the federal Energy Information Administration. Since the start of the war with Iran, the cost of a barrel of crude oil has risen almost 50 percent, according to The New York Times. Crude in this country is refined primarily in Texas and Louisiana, and once converted into gasoline, it must be pumped to storage depots and then trucked to service stations. The greater the distance those stations are from distribution sites, the higher the cost.

Then there are taxes. States tax a gallon of gas to fund road maintenance and repairs, and these surcharges can vary greatly. The national average is 33 cents, while NY State tax is 24 cents per gallon. Add to that a federal tax of 18 cents, and some states, like Illinois, can boost the price by as much as 66 cents.

Population density, or lack thereof, can also affect price. Fewer customers means fewer sales, which means owners must boost prices to remain profitable.