CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Chicagoans who are driving out of town for Thanksgiving are noticing higher prices at the gas pump after recent issues at the BP refinery in Whiting, Indiana led wholesale gas prices to jump by 30 cents a gallon.
But, Patrick DeHaan, head of Petroleum Analysis at Gas Buddy, says not many people will cancel their trip.
“Holiday travel plans are certainly some of the biggest plans of the year for a lot of families that have very deep traditions for holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving,” says DeHaan. “While some folks may have to stay a little closer to home, I don’t think the majority of Americans are really going to be slowed down by gas prices going into Thanksgiving, especially considering that they have fallen in some cases 60 to 80 cents a gallon since summertime peak.”
Gas prices in Illinois are the highest in the Midwest, with a statewide average of $3.21 per gallon.
“The good news is some of those issues have been sorted out, and I do expect that for those stations that have raised prices, we should start to see some relief here…Average prices [are] now up about eight cents from last week,” DeHaan adds. “The average in the metro area [is] about $3.42, that’s still about 11 cents lower than last year.”
As for specific and lowest gas prices, you should always shop around, especially if you're not in Illinois.
“You’re going to find it much cheaper depending on if you head to Indiana, where the statewide average is $3.07, or Wisconsin, where the price is just $2.82,” says DeHaan.
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