AAA Chicago Says Monthly Gas-Price Decline Is Just in Time for Holiday Travel

AURORA, Ill., Nov. 19, 2004 -- Just in time for Thanksgiving, one of the busiest auto travel seasons of the year, regular unleaded gasoline finally dipped below the $2 mark in Illinois, commanding an average of $1.97 per gallon. This according to AAA Chicago's most recent AAA Fuel Gauge Report. Illinois' current monthly average is down slightly from the $2.02 per-gallon average for October, but it's 42 cents higher than gas prices for this time last year.

"Gas prices are gradually easing due to recent declines in crude oil, which has fallen below $47 per barrel," says Kris Lathan, AAA Chicago spokeswoman. "By and large, gasoline prices are still the highest they've ever been for this time of the year."

Illinois' current price is even with the national average of $1.97 per gallon of regular unleaded self-serve gasoline. In Northern Indiana, regular unleaded gasoline currently costs $1.87 per gallon, which is down 9 cents since last month, but still 43 cents higher than last year.

In Cook County self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.10 per gallon, which is down by 2 cents compared to last month and 40 cents higher than last year's price-per-gallon.

In DuPage County self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.03 per gallon, which is a penny higher than last month and 43 cents higher than last year.

In Kane County self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $1.98 per gallon, which is down by a nickel compared to last month and 43 cents higher than last year.

In Lake County self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $1.98 per gallon, which is down by 4 cents in the last month and up by 40 cents compared to this time last year.

In McHenry County self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.00 per gallon, which is 3 cents less than last month and 40 cents higher than last year.

In Will County self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $1.93 per gallon, which is 6 cents lower compared to last month and 38 cents higher compared to last year.

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 46 million members in the United States and Canada.