BUFFALO, N.Y. -- New York once again on Wednesday recorded its highest ever average price for gasoline, according to AAA.

Western and Central New York spokesperson Elizabeth Carey said the price was up about a penny from the previous day and has essentially held steady or gone up for more than a month.

"I think a lot of people had expectations of pulling up to the pump and prices were going to be cheaper because this gas tax cap went into effect," Carey said.

From now until the end of the year, the state is cutting its gas tax by 16 cents per gallon. On top of that, 24 counties are capping their own gas taxes at $2, $3 or $4 per gallon.

Carey said if gas stations purchased their gas before Wednesday, they haven't had the savings to pass on to consumers yet.

"They bought their bulk supply and paid the tax on it so when that's used up, then the new supply comes in and that's taxed at a different rate, then they'll pass that down," she said.

AAA expects the relief to be more obvious in a few days, although if prices continue to rise, it may seem nominal. In a typical year, Carey said prices tend to peak around Memorial Day and stay constant throughout the summer, but this year is far from typical.

"That's the thing. It's like, what's going to happen? It's hard to tell this year," she said.

The New York state comptroller's office has posted a tool to measure savings by county depending on price per gallon, with some of the highest savings coming in places in Putnam, Rockland and Erie counties. Carey said to be prepared for different prices depending on where you're driving.

"Sometimes it's a difference of, instead of turning left, turn right and you're going to find the cheaper price right around the corner," she said. "Gas stations have the right to set their own prices based on what they paid and their supply and their demand issues."

Carey said if consumers do believe gas stations are gouging or not passing on the tax savings, they should report it to the state attorney general's office.