Gas Prices Update: Could Manhattan Soon See Prices Under $5?

MANHATTAN, IL — Manhattan residents saw a week of slow but steady decline at the pump, but gas prices still remain well above what they were this time last year.

One factor in the drop off could have been that Illinois suspended the inflation adjustment to its gas tax July 1. The gas tax holiday is scheduled to last through Dec. 31, according to the Illinois Department of Revenue. The state's tax on gas will stay flat at 39 cents per gallon during that time.

While motorists wait to see what the long-term effects will be on their wallets, average gas prices in Illinois were at $5.06, which is down 14 cents from this time last week, according to AAA.

In Manhattan, the cheapest gas Friday was at Citgo, 270 W. North St., at $5.12, according to GasBuddy.

The average in Will County remained above the state average Friday, sitting at about $5.25 per gallon, according to AAA.

Gas can be found under $5 a gallon if you know where to look, though Manhattan motorists will have to travel out of town to get it.

The cheapest gas in Will County Friday was at Circle K, 1350 S. Dixie Highway in Beecher, selling for $4.69.

Here are some other places you can save near Manhattan:

• Sam's Club, 321 S. Larkin Ave. in Joliet, $4.75.
• BP, 4802 Canton Farm Road in Joliet, $4.76.
• Mobil & 7-Eleven, 2241 S. Eola Road in Aurora, $4.76.
• Speedway, 800 Brook Forest Ave. in Shorewood, $4.77.

Nationally, the average gas price Friday was about $4.58 per gallon. It was $3.16 at this same point last year, according to AAA.

Illinois' gas prices ranked No. 7 in the lower 48 of the county. The Top 5 states in gas price averages Friday were California at $5.95, Oregon at $5.31, Nevada at $5.30, Washington at $5.28 and Idaho at $5.17, according to AAA. South Carolina had the lowest national gas price average at $4.09.