Chicago gas prices soar past $6 a gallon in some areas, Illinois gas nearly 50 cents above national average
Gas prices in Chicago have risen above $6 a gallon for regular in some neighborhoods, while Illinois is nearly 50 cents above the national average cost for fuel.
In Bucktown, one Shell station on Armitage, right off the Kennedy Expressway, regular gas is now $6.29 for a gallon of regular; $5.99 a gallon if you pay for a car wash, as of Monday morning.
Chicago gas prices rose 62 cents in just the past week, GasBuddy reported Monday morning, and currently average $5.07 a gallon for regular. Prices are about 63 cents a gallon more than one month ago, and $1.62 higher than one yera ago.
The national average for gas is around $4.45 a gallon, according to AAA, but the average price in Illinoi as of Monday morning is nearly 50 cents higher, at $4.93 a gallon.
On Friday, AAA listed the average price in Chicago at $5.17, so prices have climbed more even in just the last couple days.
GasBuddy said the cheapest gas in Chicago yesterday was $4.69 a gallon, while the most expensive was $6.29 a gallon. The lowest price in the state of Illinois was $3.99 Sunday, while the highest was $6.29, GasBUddy said.
"We continue to see stations raising prices in response to the wholesale price of gasoline which has gone up considerably this week especially after three main refinery issues," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy.
And that's just for regular. If your vehicle needs premium or diesel fuel, prices have spiked to well over $7 a gallon in many places.
Things are slightly better in Northwest Indiana, where gas is $4.85 in Gary. Further out, in South Bend, gas is only one cent cheaper: $4.84.
Analysts say the combination of global pressure, including the U.S.-Iran war and tensions overseas, and local refinery issues are driving prices higher in our state. They also warn this spike in gas costs could continue in the weeks ahead.
For drivers and travelers, that could mean even higher costs as we head into the busy summer travel season.
"I commute out from the suburbs in Blue Island, so I drive up here, and it's crazy," said driver Gilbert Mercado. "Right now the gas prices are pretty crazy, they're outrageous."
"More recently I've definitely leaned into the transit system and using that to get to work and just around the city," said Josh Govek, who lives in Chicago.
"We've seen some upward pressure on gasoline prices now," Chevron CEO Mike Wirth told CBS News' Face the Nation. "I think aviation is clearly an area where it's probably going to get wore over the next few weeks."
Analysts say while some of these local issues could improve, the bigger concern right now is what's happening overseas. With Illinois already among the most expensive states for gas, any further disruptions could push prices even higher.
