Business & Tech
Gas Prices 'Haunt' Illinois Drivers At The Pump: AAA
Illinois drivers are now paying $1.29 per gallon more than this time last year and 89 cents more than this time in 2019, AAA reports.
WILMETTE, IL — Illinois pump prices have climbed a total of 20 cents this month, according to the latest data from AAA. So far this year, the state average has increased a total of $1.16 per gallon since Jan. 1.
Illinois drivers are now paying $1.29 per gallon more than this time last year, and 89 cents more than this time in 2019.
"Gas prices have been dragged higher by skyrocketing crude oil prices," said Molly Hart, spokesperson for AAA - The Auto Club Group. "Crude oil prices have faced tremendous upward pressure, because global fuel demand is outpacing global production and supply levels. Although oil prices increased again last week, it was by a smaller margin than the weeks before. Fortunately, gasoline futures held steady. So even if gas prices increase again this week, it shouldn’t be as significant of a jump as what drivers have experienced so far this month."
Find out what's happening in Wilmette-Kenilworthfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
As of Monday, the price of regular unleaded gasoline in Illinois is $3.56 — still lower than the highest average recorded on May 5, 2011. During that time, gas prices clocked in at $4.32. In the Chicago metro area, gas is approximately 10 cents higher — $3.66 — than the statewide average. To view gas prices in other Illinois counties, click here.
| Monday | Sunday | Week Ago | Month Ago | One Year Ago | |
| National | $3.387 | $3.385 | $3.325 | $3.188 | $2.162 |
| Chicago Metro | $3.664 | $3.666 | $3.615 | $3.482 | $2.340 |
| Chicago City | $3.849 | $3.847 | $3.832 | $3.751 | $2.588 |
| Bloomington | $3.469 | $3.501 | $3.380 | $3.203 | $2.264 |
| Champaign | $3.469 | $3.472 | $3.311 | $3.186 | $2.208 |
| Peoria | $3.517 | $3.519 | $3.406 | $3.299 | $2.310 |
| Rockford | $3.487 | $3.489 | $3.417 | $3.265 | $2.220 |
| Springfield | $3.461 | $3.467 | $3.401 | $3.272 | $2.246 |
The price of US (WTI) crude oil has climbed 76 percent this year, going from $47 per barrel in January to nearly $84/b last week. In October alone, oil prices have jumped 10 percent, rising from $75.88 to $83.76 per barrel.
Find out what's happening in Wilmette-Kenilworthfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The good news is AAA projects that retail pump prices could stabilize sometime this week.
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