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Sunday, November 24, 2024

Fuel Analysis: Average Illinois driver will spend $5.46 more on gas this February

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The average Illinois driver will pay $5.46 more at the pump in February 2023 than they did in February 2022, according to an analysis of gas prices from the AAA motor club and Federal Highway Administration (FHA) data by Prairie State Wire.

Illinois drivers will pay an average of $3.67 per gallon of regular gasoline this month versus $3.55 last year. This is a 3.6 percent increase equaling $0.13 per gallon.

Of the 17 Illinois metropolitan areas analyzed, drivers in Alexander County faced the largest price hike at the pump in the last year of $13. Quincy was spared the worst pain, with the price of gas rising -$1.60 from February 2022 to February 2023.

Gas prices across the US hit a seven-year high following a significant drop at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The price of gas, derived from the cost of oil manufactured around the world, has the power to substantially change the free market and influence many industries.

A short-term outlook report from the US Energy Information Administration predicted gas rates would fall throughout 2022. This was incorrect, though the Administration made the same forecast for 2023.

Illinois drivers average 1,048.4 miles and use 43.3 gallons of gasoline per month, according to the FHA.

Illinois gas price difference - February 2022 vs. February 2023

Market20232022CHG%Total increase
Alexander County$3.70$3.40$0.308.8%$13
City of Chicago$4.07$3.83$0.246.3%$10.40
Elgin$3.70$3.53$0.174.8%$7.28
Chicago Metro$3.82$3.65$0.174.5%$7.15
Rockford$3.64$3.48$0.174.7%$7.15
Lake County$3.65$3.49$0.174.7%$7.15
Kankakee-Bradley$3.65$3.49$0.164.5%$6.80
Springfield$3.58$3.43$0.144.2%$6.24
Peoria-Pekin$3.61$3.47$0.143.9%$5.89
Carbondale-Marion$3.57$3.47$0.113.0%$4.55
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island (IL only)$3.59$3.49$0.103.0%$4.46
Danville$3.55$3.45$0.102.9%$4.38
Bloomington-Normal$3.53$3.45$0.092.5%$3.73
Champaign-Urbana$3.51$3.46$0.051.4%$2.04
East Saint Louis$3.49$3.47$0.020.4%$0.65
Decatur$3.44$3.43$0.010.3%$0.39
Quincy$3.56$3.60-$0.04-1.0%-$1.60

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