Illinois Gas Prices: Everything You Need To Know
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Earlier this year, consumers were hit with record-high gas prices. There was a tiny bit of relief as gas prices slowly decreased in the following months, but calling it short-lived would be an understatement. Once again, gas prices are surging everywhere, and it’s even worse than before.
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’re wondering what’s going on with Illinois gas prices.
For this post, we break down Illinois gas prices. How high are the gas prices in Illinois state? Where are the locations in Illinois where you can get the least expensive gas? Why are we dealing with another wave of price hikes? Keep reading to learn more.
Illinois Gas Prices: A Breakdown
Illinois is one of the more expensive states regarding gas prices, mainly because higher gasoline taxes are imposed on the state. According to AAA, the state of Illinois has an average gas price of $4.980. Not as bad as the likes of California and Hawaii, but still absurdly high, and once again, these are record-breaking numbers.
To give you an idea of how Illinois gas prices have been trending over the past year, check out our quick breakdown and graph below:
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Illinois Gas Prices State Averages
Current Avg:
- Regular: $4.980
- Mid-grade: $5.382
- Premium: $5.752
- Diesel: $5.299
Yesterday Avg:
- Regular: $4.982
- Mid-grade: $5.380
- Premium: $5.754
- Diesel: $5.303
Last Week Avg:
- Regular: $4.829
- Mid-grade: $5.200
- Premium: $5.583
- Diesel: $5.298
Last Month Avg:
- Regular: $4.407
- Mid-grade: $4.789
- Premium: $5.178
- Diesel: $4.934
Last Year Avg:
- Regular: $3.230
- Mid-grade: $3.585
- Premium: $3.974
- Diesel: $3.217
Below, we’ve made a quick graph illustrating how Illinois Gas Prices trended over the past year:
NOTE: All data and figures were pulled from the AAA Gas Prices website and are being updated daily. Therefore, the prices above may not reflect actual real-world prices.
As you can see from the graph, Illinois gas prices are consistently increasing. We saw some slowdowns on the increase and even a bit of a decrease many weeks ago, but that was clearly not enough. And now, Illinois consumers are once again caught in record-high surges with no end in sight. As one of the highest gas prices in the U.S., the surging prices will only worsen Illinoisans’ struggle at the pump.
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Where’s the Cheapest Gas in Illinois?
For this section, we’ll enumerate the top ten least expensive gas prices in Illinois. Once again, we’ll use GasBuddy for the most updated gas prices in the state.
Here are the top ten best gas prices in Illinois (price for regular fuel), according to GasBuddy:
- Flying J in Effingham, IL: $4.35
- Phillips 66 in Marshall, IL: $4.35
- Murphy USA in Galena, IL: $4.38
- Moto Martin Effingham, IL: $4.39
- Jewel Express in Moline, IL: $4.39
- Road Ranger in Marshall, IL: $4.39
- Conoco in East Dubuque, IL: $4.39
- Woodman’s in Rockford, IL: $4.39
- Jewel Express in East Moline, IL: $4.39
- Costco in Loves Park, IL: $4.39
For good measure, we also researched the best prices for the most populated cities in Illinois, such as:
- Chicago: $4.35 - $4.39
- Rockford: $4.39 - $4.69
- Springfield: $4.39 - $4.59
- Peoria: $4.59 - $4.68
- Bloomington: $4.57 - $4.75
- Effingham: $4.35 - $4.59
With a national average of $4.596, Illinois consumers are simply paying more at the pump – even more so with the ongoing surge in prices. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like things will start to slow down or decline.
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Why Are Illinois Gas Prices So High?
Consumers everywhere are struggling with price hikes, and we’re currently dealing with record-high numbers. Just earlier in May, there was a 17-cent increase in a week and a 41-cent hike from when the national record was broken in March. Despite record-breaking numbers, it has yet to surpass the record back in 2008 when adjusted for inflation. Nevertheless, economists are saying that we’re poised to beat the 2008 numbers as well.
Just like in March, the main contributor to the rising gas prices is Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The sanctions brought on by the U.S. and other countries continue to embargo Russian oil. Consequently, the cost of crude oil keeps on increasing and is over $100 per barrel. These three-digit crude oil prices don’t bode well for consumers because prices will remain high.
Another factor that will further increase gas prices in the coming summer months is the escalating demand. More people are expected to hit the road with the pandemic winding down, so demand will remain high. Plus, gas stations will switch to summer blends, typically more expensive by 7 to 10 cents per gallon.
GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis, Patrick De Haan, said that consumers should expect higher prices for the rest of the year or even longer.
Are Gas Prices Ever Coming Down?
One of the ways for gas prices to come down is to ramp up the global production of gas and oil. But, coming off the pandemic, gas manufacturers have labor shortages and equipment issues to deal with. So with no end in sight, how does one cope with skyrocketing gas prices?
If you have no access to decent public transportation, your best bet is to be more vigilant and mindful of your driving and spending habits.
One of the best things you can do is stay on top of your vehicle maintenance. A well-maintained vehicle is a fuel-efficient vehicle. Also, keep track of gas prices in your area by using apps like GasBuddy. The difference may not be that significant, but it all adds up in the end.
Lastly, consider going full electric or hybrid if you have the budget for a new car. This doesn’t just help you save at the pump; you can also take advantage of Illinois’ electric vehicle incentive. Unfortunately, new and used car prices are pretty expensive as well.
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