Pump prices in the New York metro area hit a fresh record as the driving season ramps up amid the lowest gasoline stockpiles the region has ever seen for this time of year. Prices rose to a record $5.21 a gallon overnight for the area and $5.50 for Manhattan, according to auto club AAA. For the metro area, that’s $2 more than a year ago. Seasonal demand and unseasonably low supply meant the state tax break that went into effect at the beginning of the month hasn’t been enough to hold back the surge in prices. The tax relief did help stall the rise, and even caused the state average to fall briefly in early June. But that average is now $5.041 a gallon, slightly above the US national average of $5.016 a gallon, which is another fresh record. New York state, historically the second most expensive state to […]