Area drivers and consumers nationwide were pinched at the pump and at home as gasoline prices jumped an average of 2.8 cents a gallon over the last week to the fifth highest level on record, the government said Monday.
The government predicts that U.S. pump prices will soon be at an all-time high.
Energy prices are up due to market fears of a war with Iraq, a disruption in Venezuelan oil exports from a workers strike and strong demand for petroleum products.
Some lawmakers and consumers groups have asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether oil companies are gouging consumers at the pump.
The West Coast had the most expensive regular unleaded gasoline, while the Gulf Coast states had the cheapest gasoline. Among cities, San Francisco kept the top spot in fuel costs; Houston had the cheapest gasoline.
$1.70
Illinois’ statewide average price for a gallon of gasoline, a record high for March. The average price is up nearly 20 cents from a month ago and is nearly 50 percent higher than the average price of $1.16 a gallon on the same date in 2002.
$1.69
Average price per gallon of gasoline in the United States, up 54 cents from a year ago. It is the highest price since late May 2001, and just shy of the record $1.71 a gallon reached earlier that same month.
$1.76
Average price per gallon in Chicago.
$2.17
The highest recorded price in Illinois for a gallon of regular unleaded gas, registered in June 2000 in Chicago, according to AAA-Chicago records.
$1.58
Average price per gallon in East St. Louis.
15th
Illinois’ rank for gas prices among states, which range from $1.52 a gallon in Georgia to just over $2 a gallon in California.
Gas prices are according to a Monday survey by AAA-Chicago.
$35.88
Price for a barrel of U.S. light crude oil, down from nearly $40 last week, the highest level since October 1990, when Iraq occupied Kuwait. The traditional benchmark is about $25 a barrel.
