AAA: Gas Prices Break Records in March

AAA Chicago’s most recent Fuel Gauge Report estimates that in Illinois, regular unleaded gasoline increased $.52 cents during the past month, and $.86 since the start of the year.

The average cost of $4.10 per gallon for the month of March was $.44 higher per gallon than last year. BothChicago and the metro region hit all-time-highs in March, with the highest price ever in Chicago recorded on March 27, 2012.

That price of $4.68 was also the highest price in the lower 48 states that day. Daily city-by-city average prices forIllinois can be found here.

In northern Indiana, gas prices averaged $4.10 in March, which is up $.59 cents from February 2012 and up $.54 from March 2011. Some towns in northwest Indiana saw all-time high prices as well at the end of March, includingGary, IN with a high of $4.37 on March 29.

“The seasonal switch over to a summer blend of gasoline, combined with high prices for oil and especially high prices for the reformulated blend of gasoline used in Chicago left consumers altering daily commute plans and family budgets this month,” said Beth Mosher, director of public affairs for AAA Chicago.

• In McHenry County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $4.15 per gallon, which is $.63 cents higher than last month’s average and $.52 higher than March 2011’s price.

• In Cook County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $4.33, which is up $.61 from last month and $.52 higher than last year’s price-per-gallon.
• In DuPage County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $4.22 per gallon, which is a 62-cent increase from February and up $.54 cents from last year.
• In Kane County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $4.18 per gallon, which is up 62 cents compared to last month and $.53 higher than March 2011’s price.
• In Lake County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $4.17 per gallon, which is 62 cents higher than last month and up by $.54 compared to this time last year.

Source: AAA Chicago press release