Gas prices rise for the first time in months

The price of gas rose in Illinois this month, but its still down $1.07 from this time last year. (WJBC file photo)

By Jim Anderson/Illinois Radio Network

CHICAGO – The statewide average price of gas in Illinois is now $2.29, up from $2.11 a month ago, according to the Triple-A Fuel Gauge Report. Gas prices in Bloomington-Normal average $2.27, up from $2.04 last month, but down from $3.20 last year. The national average is $2.15.

"It is indicative of the fact that oil prices are stabilizing a little bit. They’ve been very low for a while now, but also some refineries have started their maintenance process, and that always comes with a small uptick in prices," says Beth Mosher, spokesman for the Aurora-based AAA-Chicago Motor Club.

The price is still cheaper than last year at this time by $1.07.

Diesel has started to come down now: It’s at $2.87, a 38-cent drop from January and a decline of $1.07 from a year ago.

Mosher says she expects the price of gas to remain moderate for the year, with the national average not topping $3. She says Illinois might go over $3 at some point, but probably not by much and not for long.

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