AAA Chicago Monthly Fuel Gauge Report Reflects Slight Decline in Prices

AURORA, Ill., May 23, 2005 -- The statewide average for gasoline in Illinois and Northern Indiana has dropped from last month's averages. AAA Chicago's most recent Fuel Gauge Report estimates that for May 2005, Illinois motorists will pay an average of $2.15 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline. That's down 16 cents from a month ago but is 8 cents higher than gas prices for this time last year. In northern Indiana, gas prices now average $2.05, which is down 21 cents from April and up two cents from May 2004.

"While motorists still feel some pain at the pump with gasoline prices higher than this time last year, there has been a decrease from April's averages," says Kris Lathan, AAA Chicago spokeswoman. "The cost of crude oil has come down below $50 per barrel, production has increased and oil reserves being built up have all contributed to the decline in price."

   -- In Cook County, Ill. self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages
      $2.28, which is down 13 cents compared to last month and 6 cents
      higher than last year's price-per-gallon.
   -- In DuPage County, Ill. self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages
      $2.23 per gallon, which is a 12-cent decrease from April and 9 cents
      higher than last year.
   -- In Kane County, Ill. self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages
      $2.20 per gallon, which is down 14 cents compared to last month and 7
      cents higher than May 2004's price.
   -- In Lake County, Ill. self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages
      $2.17 per gallon, which is down 14 cents in the last month and up by 7
      cents compared to this time last year.
   -- In McHenry County, Ill. self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages
      $2.16 per gallon, which is down 15 cents from April's average and 5
      cents higher than May 2004's price.
   -- In Will County, Ill. self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages
      $2.20 per gallon, which is 13 cents lower compared to last month and 6
      cents higher compared to last year.
   -- In Allen County, Ind. self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages
      $1.99 per gallon, which is a decrease of 19-cents from last month and
      one cent lower than May 2004's price.
   -- In Lake County, Ind. self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages
      $2.04 per gallon, a 17-cent decrease from April's average and a 2-cent
      decrease from a year ago.
   -- In St. Joseph County, Ind. self-serve regular unleaded gasoline
      averages $1.99 per gallon, which is down 25 cents compared to last
      month and a decrease of 7 cents from May 2004.

For more than 100 years, AAA has represented the interests of the nation's motorists and served as an advocate for various traffic safety and travel related issues. AAA Chicago has served that role in Illinois since its founding in 1906.

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 48 million members in the United States and Canada.