AAA Chicago: December Fuel Prices Decline Throughout Illinois and Indiana

AURORA, Ill.--Over the past month, fuel prices have decreased in Illinois and northern Indiana, largely due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar and the slight drop in oil prices. AAA Chicago’s most recent Fuel Gauge Report estimates that in Illinois, regular unleaded gasoline has decreased 6 cents during the past month, forecasting an average cost of $2.67 per gallon for the month of December, which is still $1.01 higher per gallon than last year.

In northern Indiana, gas prices average $2.53, which down 6 cents from November 2009 and up $.98 from December 2008.

“As we head into the holiday season consumers are paying less at the pump,” says Beth Mosher, AAA Chicago’s spokesperson. “This is a welcome gift at the end of a very difficult economic year.”

Additionally, on average in Illinois for 2009 consumers spent $2.43 for an unleaded gallon of gasoline, which is $.93 less than 2008. In northern Indiana, consumers spent on average $2.32 for an unleaded gallon of gasoline in 2009, whereas they spent $3.26 on average in 2008.

• In Cook County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.56, which is down $.06 cents from last month and $.83 higher than last year’s price-per-gallon.
• In DuPage County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.59 per gallon, which is a 3-cent decrease from November and $.95 higher than last year.
• In Kane County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.62 per gallon, which is 11 cents lower compared to last month and $.98 higher than December 2008’s price.
• In Lake County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.55 per gallon, which is 11 cents lower than last month and up by $.95 compared to this time last year.
• In McHenry County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.61 per gallon, which is 4 cents higher than month’s average and $.94 higher than December 2008’s price.
• In Will County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.64 per gallon, which is 1 cent lower compared to last month and $1.25 higher compared to last year.
• In Champaign County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.64 per gallon, a decrease of 14 cents from November and an increase of $.98 from last year.
• In McLean County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.62 per gallon, which is 15 cents lower than last month and $.99 higher than last year.
• In Peoria County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.56 per gallon, which is a 1-cent increase compared to last month and a $.95 increase from December 2008.
• In Sangamon County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.53 per gallon, which is 12 cents lower than last month and $.92 higher than last year.
• In Winnebago County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.80 per gallon, a decrease of 9 cents from November and an increase of $1.09 from December 2008.
• In Allen County, Ind., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.54 per gallon, which is a decrease of 5 cents from last month and $.99 higher than December 2008’s price.
• In Lake County, Ind., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.53 per gallon, a 7-cent decrease from November’s average and a $.97 increase from a year ago.
• In Porter County, Ind., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.64 per gallon, which is 12 cents lower than last month and $1.10 higher than last year.
• In St. Joseph County, Ind., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.65 per gallon, which is 14 cents lower compared to last month and $.98 higher compared to last year.

Fuel prices are posted on-line at www.fuelgaugereport.com, which updates prices daily for unleaded, diesel and E85 blends of fuel.