Chicago and Northwest Indiana Gas Prices
(CBS 2/AP) - Depending on the survey you look at, Chicago has the highest gas prices in the nation, or falls just behind San Francisco.
As CBS 2 reports, AAA's fuel gauge report has the most accessible, recent data and according to that survey, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded here is running about $3.56. That's way up from last year at this time, when drivers were paying about $2.98 a gallon in Chicago.
That's also well above the national average of $3.19 a gallon for self-serve regular.
The Lundberg Survey shows that—nationwide—the highest average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is in Chicago, at $3.59 a gallon.
This comes as Lundberg's national average for self-serve regular gasoline has hit a record high of $3.18 per gallon, according to the survey.
That's up more than 11 cents over the previous two weeks.
The previous record--adjusted for inflation--was $3.15 per gallon in March 1981.
The Lundberg Survey is based on information from 7,000 gas stations across the country.
According to AAA, the current city, state and national averages today are all the highest prices on record.
One reason is that U.S. petroleum inventories are at record lows, but oil companies also blame higher demand. But the U.S. Department of Transportation says drivers actually logged fewer miles than usual over the last three months.
A few months ago one oil company president defended high profits linked to high prices.
“The profits are high because the crude price is high and the cost of producing that crude has not materially changed. Future investments cost more money,” John Hofmeister, president of Shell Oil said in December.
Motorists obviously have a somewhat different view. "Gas prices right now are ridiculous," commuter Adrienne Gordon said Monday. "We were just talking about this the other day. Gas prices used to be 99 cents. Now it's $3.55. It's like a McDonald's meal for a gallon of gas."
Gordon said gas prices have changed the way she lives; most notably, she takes shorter trips and doesn't do as much.
If you're wondering where the lowest priced gas is in the country, it's Charleston, S.C., where the average gallon of regular unleaded is $2.87.
On the Net:
Lundberg Survey: http://www.lundbergsurvey.com
Chicago and Northwest Indiana Gas Prices
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