CHICAGO - Over the weekened gas prices were the lowest in Illinois at five different stations in Streator Illinois, where the price is $3.35 per gallon for regular unleaded. Current prices are highest in Chicago, where stations were charging $4.59 a gallon - a difference of $1.24 per gallon from the state's lowest prices.
Gas is creeping up to the $5 mark because of Illinois oil refineries' seasonal maintenance, said Jim Watson, Director of the Illinois Petroleum Council in Springfield.
The state's refineries shut down in March and April to transition from a winter blend of fuel to a more costly summer blend - a change that happens twice every year, he said.
“Then, usually what happens with gasoline is you go through spurts. Once the market absorbs the initial increase, a lot of it is competition and what is going on in the world market,” Watson, a former GOP member of the Illinois House, said.