How much more are Illinoisians paying for gas? How the state, metro-east compare
Typical Illinois drivers are spending $33.51 more per month on fuel than they were just one month ago, due to the war in Iran, according to a recent report.
The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a nonprofit, nonpartisan tax policy organization, reported March 23 in its analysis “These States Are Most Impacted by the Spike in Gas Prices” Alabama is the most affected state in the nation, with the average driver there spending $52 more per month.
The national average increase in monthly gas spending is $34, ITEP found. But although Illinois’ increase was slightly below the national average, drivers in the Land of Lincoln spend more than most Americans do at the pump due to the state’s relatively high gas tax.
Through June 30, the Illinois Motor Fuel Tax rate is set at 48.3 cents per gallon of gasoline and 55.8 cents per gallon of diesel, though the rates are tied to inflation and are likely to increase July 1.
Illinois’ average gas price was $4.286 per gallon as of April 21, compared to a national average of $4.022, according to travel company AAA. Neighboring Missouri’s average is $3.608 per gallon.
ITEP reported the effect of higher gas prices is especially severe in the South, and price increases have been felt unevenly across the nation for a few reasons.
“And partly it is because residents of some states purchase more gasoline because their populations are more dispersed, commutes are longer, transit service is sparser, and even the types of vehicles people own are different,” ITEP’s analysis reads.
States seeing the greatest effects of rising fuel prices
Here’s how the top 10 states compared for additional monthly gas spending:
1. Alabama, with an average monthly spending spike of $52.01 per driver
2. Mississippi, $50.76
3. Wyoming, $48.78
4. Kentucky, $46.69
5. New Mexico, $44.25
6. Texas, $44.04
7. Tennessee, $42.44
8. Arizona, $41.69
9. Louisiana, $40.08
10. Indiana, $39.62
To evaluate each state for the effect of increased gas prices, ITEP used month-to-month gas price data from AAA, as well as state-level data from the Federal Highway Administration on the amount of gasoline used, among other sources.
Gas prices in Illinois increased by nearly $1.20 per gallon in a recent one-month period. Slight relief was seen in mid-April, when the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for the world’s oil, reopened briefly, but it was soon closed again.
St. Clair County residents pay slightly more than the state’s average gas price, according to AAA data, at $4.299 per gallon.
How can you save at the pump?
Auto club AAA offers an online tool where you can search for gas stations along your route, including pricing. GasBuddy is another option, offering an app to search for cheaper gas and a U.S. gas price map. As of April 20, GasBuddy shows crowdsourced prices of $4.29 at Motomarts in Belleville and Swansea and $4.19 at a Circle K in Belleville.
The app Upside offers cash back on gas purchases, as well as a map to locate the most affordable stations near you.
More money-saving tips to consider include using any cash-back offers your credit card company may have, checking if your company reimburses you for work trips, downloading gas station apps for offers and buying your gas with cash.
Additionally, if you happen to live near a Metro station, public transportation can be a more affordable alternative to driving.
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