By Jake Fogal
BLOOMINGTON – Gas prices in Illinois are on the rise for the first time in over a month, up about 6 cents over the week, averaging $4.41 a gallon.
The national average is up 4.4 cents over the week, averaging $4.11 a gallon.
“For the first time in over a month, the national average price of gasoline has risen. Primarily, this was due to oil prices that had jumped the prior week, pushing up the price that stations pay for fuel and thus causing them to raise prices,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.
According to GasBuddy, prices in the state are down 9.4 cents compared to last month, and a $1.39 more expensive compared to this time last year.
GasBuddy price reports show the cheapest station in the state is $3.85 while the most expensive is $5.38.
“The rise has been quite tame in most areas, white others have continued to gently decline. But, with the French election now behind us, there is risk that the EU could pursue harsher sanctions on Russia’s energy, which could cause oil prices to rise if it happens – something motorists should be on the wathc for. In addition, U.S. oil inventories continue to decline, putting additional pressure on prices as the nation’s SPR continues to drain and Russia’s war on Ukraine remains ongoing. The global imbalance between supply and demand that led to these higher prices continues for the time being.”
Jake Fogal can be reached at [email protected].
