Rockford, Illinois not yet near gas-price records

By Thomas V. Bona

BusinessRockford.com

Gas prices shot up more than 10 cents a gallon in Rockford and throughout Illinois this weekend, passing the national average after almost a week of lagging behind.

Although the national average is within a fraction of a cent of its record level of $3.227, the Rockford metro area ($3.263) is 20 cents behind its all-time high and Illinois ($3.265) is 26 cents shy. All prices are according to AAA’s fuelgaugereport.com.

Since gas prices spiked last spring, Illinois generally has been at least 5 cents a gallon, if not much more, ahead of the national average, thanks to higher sales taxes and environmental regulations.

The unusual lag in Illinois prices is because of a 1-percent drop in demand, said Bill Fleischli, executive vice president of the Illinois Petroleum Marketers Association/Illinois Association of Convenience Stores. High gas prices, talk of a recession and bad weather have kept people from driving as much, he said.

In response, Illinois gas retailers have kept prices lower to win customers in an even more competitive market.

“I think we’ll probably stay close to the national average,” Fleischli said.

But that average could rise to as much as $3.40 to $3.60 this year, he said, which would take Illinois and Rockford to record levels.

Although Illinois gas prices remain well below the all-time high, diesel prices continue to set records. Rockford’s metro average topped out at $3.855 Sunday and stands at $3.843. The state average is at a record of $3.955. Both have risen more than 40 cents in the past month, a rate much faster than gasoline prices. The national average also is a record at $3.829.

Chicago tops the state at $4.032 a gallon, which is tied for 26th in the nation and 10th for metro areas outside of California and New York.

Staff writer Thomas V. Bona may be contacted at 815-987-1343 or tbona@rrstar.com.