Chicagoland Gas Prices Highest in Nation

Record-setting heat isn’t the only mark Chicagoland is breaking these days.

The city and suburbs are on the verge of also breaking records for the highest gas prices, according to AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report and online gas price tracking website GasBuddy.com.

The city is seeing prices as high as $4.87 per gallon for regular, according to GasBuddy.com.

In the suburbs, drivers can find gas for the relatively low price of $4.21 per gallon for regular in far north Zion, or as high as $4.75 per gallon in Arlington Heights.

In Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, gas prices hovered around $4.39.

Illinois ranks fourth highest average gas prices, according to AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report.  In downstate Illinois, you can still get gas for as low as $3.78 per gallon.

Nationwide, the lowest gas prices are in the western states with Wyoming’s average for regular at $3.47 per gallon. Hawaii has the highest average price at $4.51.

AAA experts expect Chicagoland gas prices to reach an all-time high soon, according The Expired Meter.

GasBuddy’s Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan told The Expired Meter that he expects gas prices to remain over $4 a gallon all summer, and they may even reach $5 per gallon.

According to AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report, oil prices are driven by global issues. However, recent price rises are associated with the weakness of the American dollar.

according to experts, Chicagoland prices are also impacted by gas taxes.

Illinois has the seventh highest gasoline tax rate in the country, according to the Tax Foundation.