Residents of Illinois hitting the road for holiday travel this year will find some pockets of financial relief at the pump, as statewide gas prices are on a gradual decline.
According to data from AAA, in Springfield, the average gas price is $3.83 per gallon for regular unleaded—a notable drop from last month and a distant cry from the record June highs of $5.28. This pricing battle has consumers catching a break compared to a month ago, when wallets felt the sting as the average price hovered over half a dollar more per gallon.
The sting may be lessened with pumps at the Thorntons station on Peoria Road offering gas at a more palatable $3.64 a gallon, a price undercutting even some of its local competitors, as reported by The State Journal-Register.
However, for travelers venturing beyond Springfield, the gas price landscape changes.
The rest of Illinois sees an average of $4.24 per gallon, with Chicago’s city dwellers paying up to $4.96 per gallon, according to the same source.
Regional prices from area to area can reveal stark contrasts, with the rest of the state often paying higher rates—like in the suburbs, where pumps charge $4.59 per gallon—in stark comparison to Springfield’s prices.
When it comes to neighboring states, Illinois drivers might be tempted to cross state lines for a fill-up. In a juxtaposition driven by tax variances, states like Missouri, Iowa, and Wisconsin boast lower prices than the Land of Lincoln, with Illinois’ 39 cents per gallon tax ranking it sixth highest in the nation.
The Chicago Tribune notes that Missouri’s more manageable 22-cent tax allows for a price of $3.47 per gallon, a significant saving if one chooses to tank up in St. Louis versus the Metro East.
For Illinoisans pondering a last dash before the year ends, these numbers spell out the cost of travel in hard cash. A quick comparison lays bare the economics of interstate travel: filling up on the Iowa side of the Quad Cities would net a saving of 60 cents per gallon compared to the Illinois side, as per AAA figures cited by The State Journal-Register. And with gas taxes playing no small part in these disparities, motorists’ budgets are sure to feel the difference.
Source : Hoodline
