Central Illinois Gas Prices Soar Towards Record Highs This August

CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Motorists in Central Illinois are feeling the pinch as gas prices climb once again, bucking the trend of stability seen in the national average.

According to the latest GasBuddy report issued on Monday, prices at the pump have risen for the fourth consecutive week. Although there was a slight dip of one cent in the average national price for regular gasoline, the picture at the state and regional levels was far from uniform, noted Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy’s lead petroleum analyst.

“The oil market experienced a rollercoaster recently, spiking due to geopolitical unrest before calming down Sunday night as President Trump suggested a potential deal might be in the works,” De Haan remarked. “Despite this brief relief in oil prices, continuous Ukrainian assaults on Russian oil infrastructure are leading to higher refined product costs as production dwindles, thus maintaining upward pressure on U.S. gas prices.”

Forecasts from De Haan suggest that drivers should brace for even higher costs at the pump in the coming week. The national average may soon reach levels not seen at this time of year, with a reminder that, in 2022, prices peaked in June before experiencing a downward trend through the rest of the summer.

“Motorists should keep a close eye on developments both in the Middle East and in Ukraine, as either front could quickly shift the outlook,” De Haan added.

In their report on Monday, GasBuddy shared the following information about the prices of gas:

• United States
  • Average price of regular fuel is $4.05 per gallon

Elsewhere in Central Illinois, Oakwood is selling the region’s cheapest gas at $3.89 per gallon. Most of Effingham’s stations and a few in Springfield are just under $4 per gallon, with only a handful of other stations around the region selling at or near that price. Decatur’s cheapest gas is $4.09 per gallon, and Danville’s cheapest is $4.19.