South Cook News

Illinois gas prices soared to record high levels in June, as motorists continued to be plagued by costs that far outpaced the national average through the month of July.

Across the country over the last two weeks, even as the national gas price average fell to $4.327 per gallon, prices remained 37% higher than they were a year ago. After hitting record high national prices in June, AAA.com reports demand in the first week of July dropped by 9.7% to 8.73 million barrels per day.

Illinois motorists continue to be hindered by prices that remain high even as the state has seen a 7.5% decrease in price compared to a nationwide decrease of 6.5% during the month of July.

According to the American Petroleum Institute, one of the reasons for prices continuing to trend the way they have in Illinois stems from lawmakers in Springfield in 2021 raising the state gas tax, making Illinois home to the second highest gas taxes in the country at 78 cents before any local taxes.

In addition, based on its EPA standards, drivers in Illinois must burn a cleaner blend of gasoline throughout the summer months.

While in Orland Park, PBR Pac spoke to a resident named Jim asking if gas prices had ever been this bad to which he responded, "No, never. When Carter was president, it was bad, but not like this.”

As of July 11, the average cost for a gallon of gas in Illinois stood at $5.148, with Cook County being home to the highest gas prices in the state at an average of $5.613 per gallon.