Gas Prices Continue a Downward Trend, Says AAA-CMC

AURORA, Ill., Jan. 15 -- According to AAA Chicago's most recent fuel gauge report, gas prices have dropped an average of 5 cents throughout Illinois over last month, with an average price for regular unleaded at $1.145.

In Cook County, self-serve regular unleaded gasoline now averages $1.170 per gallon, which is down 7 cents from last month and 44 cents from last year.

In DuPage County, self-serve regular unleaded gasoline now averages $1.105 per gallon, 7 cents lower than December's prices.

In Kane County, self-serve regular unleaded gasoline also averages $1.107 per gallon, 5 cents lower than December's prices.

In Lake County, self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $1.110 per gallon, 5 cents lower than December's prices.

In McHenry County, self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $1.138 per gallon, 4 cents lower than December's prices.

In Will County, self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $1.094 per gallon, 2 cents lower than December's prices.

In northern Indiana, self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $1.057 per gallon, .009 cents lower than last month and 45 cents down from last year.

This pattern of slow and steady declines at retail pumps can be attributed to a few factors, one of which includes a struggling economy through a period of flat economic growth. This comes at a time when there is a normal low demand for gasoline that typifies the post-winter holiday driving season.

``The unseasonably warm weather throughout much of Illinois also has played a large part in the decline of retail gas prices,'' said Mark Bruno, spokesman for AAA Chicago. ``Local refiners are able to devote more time toward the production of conventional motor fuel because of low demand for home heating oil.''