Gas prices spike in Central Illinois

Posted on July 10, 2015
Gas station
Gas prices are averaging $2.92 per gallon in Illinois. (Photo courtesy Facebook/Illinois Petroleum Marketers Association)

By Eric Stock

SPRINGFIELD – The cost of filling up is going up, but an oil industry lobbyist predicts the recent spike won’t last long.

Director of the Illinois Petroleum Marketers Association Bill Fleischli told WJBC’s Dan Swaney gas rices should stabilize though there’s is always some uncertainty.

“There seems to be ample supply of oil and the refiners are okay, but we will have to worry about the Middle East situation which is very difficult,” Fleischli said.

Fleischli blames the recent increase on price increase on refinery maintenance which has limited supply at a time of higher demand.

“The maintenance is scheduled years out and they scheduled it now thinking there would be no interruptions in service in other places,” Fleischli said. “When those things happen and demand has gone up, that causes a spike in prices.”

Gas prices in Bloomington-Normal have risen to about $2.70 per gallon, that’s still about 20 cents below the state average.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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