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CHICAGO (WLS) — Gas prices are hitting wallets hard. According to Gas Buddy, Illinois has seen a 39-cent jump per gallon over the past week, while Indiana experienced an even sharper increase of 84 cents.
In Indiana, AAA reports the average cost for a gallon of gas is now $4.41. In Illinois, the price is even steeper at $4.66 for regular unleaded, with Chicago drivers facing prices exceeding $5.
While tensions in the Middle East contribute to the surge, they aren’t the sole reason for rising fuel costs.
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Drivers are feeling the financial strain as filling up becomes more costly. Even Illinois residents crossing into Indiana for cheaper gas are finding prices higher than expected, with no immediate relief in sight.
In Chicago, motorists are feeling the pinch, as refueling can sometimes cost over $100. The impact on budgets is significant.
“Absolutely,” said Julie Albert, a driver from the suburbs. “Whenever I need to fill up in the city, it’s noticeably more expensive compared to the suburbs.”
According to Gas Buddy, the war with Iran keeping the Straight of Hormuz closed, along with a weekend power loss at BP’s refinery in Whiting, Indiana, are among the reasons behind the spike at the pump in the last week in Illinois and Indiana.
“Just any way you slice it, pressure from every single side, on the refining side, on the oil side, you know, for motorists it may be more of a buckle up and hang on for dear life,” said Patrick De Haan, Gas Buddy Chief of Petroleum Analysis. “You know, prices certainly could hit records if this does not ease anytime soon.”
De Haan says gas hasn’t been this high since July of 2022. Even drivers crossing the border to Indiana in search of lower prices are surprised. Gas there jumped more than 80 cents a gallon in the last week.
“I actually was shocked as I was driving down this road here I was is, this is usually a good place to fill up,” regional salesman Angelo Gelfuso said. “And it’s, it’s obviously shot up significantly.”
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“I only put $30 in,” Illinois driver Gaylon Lewis said. “I don’t let it get that low because, then it costs me 100 bucks.”
Some Illinois Republicans are calling on Governor JB Pritzker to suspend the sales tax increase on gas set to take effect in July.
“I really believe that it’s worthy of contemplation, but that is not something that you know, we have front and center here,” Pritzker said. “We’ve got a whole bunch of issues, including reducing the cost of housing in the state.”
Higher gas prices also seen as a threat to the broader economy.
“The US economy runs on diesel from trains to tractors downstate to the trucks that deliver that food to the market,” De Haan said. “We are going to see a vast impact. If diesel prices remain elevated, we certainly will likely see inflation reaccelerate.”
If gas prices remain high, it could change at least some people’s minds about summer travel. Or they might just have to spend more for their vacations than they had planned.
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