Gas Prices at Record High for Month of February

    AURORA, Ill., Feb. 12 -- At a time of year when gas prices
are historically lower, Illinois and northern Indiana motorists find
themselves paying an average of more than $1.60 a gallon for gasoline-the
highest process on record for the month of February, and the highest prices
for gasoline since the fall of 2001.
    According to AAA Chicago's most recent fuel gauge report, the average
price of regular unleaded gasoline in Illinois now averages $1.65 per gallon,
which is up 16 cents from this time last month and up 53 cents from last year.
In northern Indiana, gas prices now average $1.62, which also is up 16 cents
from last month and is up 58 cents from last year.

    In Cook County, self-serve regular unleaded gasoline now averages $1.70
per gallon, which is up 14 cents from last month.
    In DuPage County, self-serve regular unleaded gasoline now averages $1.623
per gallon, 12 cents higher than January prices.
    In Kane County, self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $1.618 per
gallon, 13 cents higher than January prices.
    In Lake County, self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $1.629 per
gallon, 14 cents higher than January prices.
    In McHenry County, self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $1.639
per gallon, 12 cents higher than January prices.
    In Will County, self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $1.627 per
gallon, 13 cents higher than January prices.

    "The unusually high prices for gasoline can be attributed to the oil
industry's fear of a war with Iraq," said AAA Chicago spokesman Steve Nolan.
"In the event of a war with Iraq, AAA Chicago urges retailers to avoid so-
called 'panic pricing' that was seen after the September 11 tragedy.  The club
also encourages consumers to shop aggressively for the best price on
gasoline."

    AAA Chicago offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services.
It is part of The Auto Club Group (ACG), the largest affiliation of AAA clubs
in the Midwest, with 4.1 million members in eight states.  ACG clubs belong to
the national AAA federation, a not-for-profit organization, with more than
45 million members in the United States and Canada.