(WKTV) - Financial breaks are hard to come by lately, but our summertime squeeze at the pumps is becoming a bit more bearable. Gas Prices in the Mohawk Valley are hovering around the $3.50 mark, down more than 50 cents from mid-July.

Ed Welsh, Executive Director AAA in Utica, says the trend will likely continue.

So why the drop in prices?

Welsh says that the high prices had more people parking it, less demand has translated into lower prices.

The good news, prices are expected to continue to fall in central New York. However, all of the savings at the pump may be offset but a spike in the cost of heating oil.

"Just when you think the price of gasoline is going to go down, the high cost of heating oil is going to counterman that and have a worse effect on people's pocket books," said Welsh.

In fact, thanks to new EPA regulations, the cost of heating oil is more than a dollar over where it ended last year.

Average Price Today: $3.85*

Ended the 2007 Season: $2.60*

The average customer will pay over $1,000 more than they paid last year.

**According to AAA