Gas Prices Continue to Rise; Palatine Prices Well Above National Average

CNN Money reported Monday the average price for a gallon of gasoline in America is $3.73. Gas prices in Palatine are even higher.

Most motorists have noticed that the price of gasoline has done nothing but rise over the past month. CNN Money reported Monday that the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in America has increased more than 13 percent over the past 32 days to $3.73. As of Tuesday morning, gas prices in Palatine ranged from $3.83 at the Palatine Oil Company at 515 W. Colfax Street in Palatine to $4.39 at the Shell station at 1393 East Dundee Road, according to GasBuddy.com CNN Money is crediting the price increase to a combination of factors including rising crude oil prices, production cuts and refinery closings.  The Chicago Tribune reported last week a number of refinery issues in the area have affected the gas prices including an …

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Palatine Gas Station Drops Prices

Drivers flock to one Palatine gas station to save at least 20 cents per gallon.

The parking lot of the Marathon Gas Station at the corner of N. Rand and Plum Grove Roads in Palatine is full of drivers waiting to fill up. “This gas station is always packed,” Frank Brago said as shoved the gasoline nozzle into the tank of his truck. The owner of a landscape company, Brago said he goes out of his way to stop at this Marathon station at least two or three times a week. “The people here are so friendly,” Brago joked as he stared up at the pump, “No, people come here because it’s cheaper.” For about $200, Brago filled up two trucks and four gas cans to fuel his landscape company.  $4.09 for a gallon of regular gasoline may not be cheap but it is the cheapest price in town, saving drivers at least 20 cents a gallon. …

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Chicagoland Gas Prices Highest in Nation

Experts expect gas prices to reach an all-time high soon.

Record heat isn’t the only record Chicagoland is breaking these days. They city and suburbs are on the verge of also breaking records for the highest gas prices, according to AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report and online gas price tracking website GasBuddy.com. The city is seeing prices as high as $4.87 per gallon for regular, according to GasBuddy.com. In the suburbs, drivers can find gas for the relatively low price of $4.21 per gallon for regular in far north Zion, or as high as $4.75 per gallon in Arlington Heights. Here in Palatine, the lowest gas prices are $4.30 at Palatine Marathon, 7 Northwest Highway. Illinois ranks fourth highest average gas prices according to  AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report.  In downstate Illinois you can still get gas …

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Why Are Gas Prices So High?

In Illinois, more than 50 cents of the price per gallon is due to taxes.

There is no easy answer for the reasons behind the rising cost of gasoline. Nevertheless, the rising cost of gas turned into a political battle between Republicans and Democrats at a Congressional hearing today, according to the Huffington Post. Republicans and oil industry leaders said America is not fully tapping its energy resources and were critical of the Obama administration’s rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline. Democrats blamed higher gas prices on Middle East tensions and speculation by Wall Street investors. Gas prices have jumped 48 cents since January to an average $3.76 per gallon. The truth is that crude oil prices accounted for 76 percent of the price of a gallon of gas in January, according to the U.S. Energy Information …

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The Sunday Cartoon

Will Only the Well-Heeled Be Drivers?

It may be back to the future for cars.

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AAA: Gas Prices Reach Highest Ever For State, Area

The average prices for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in the Chicago area is $4.41.

The Chicagoland area broke a record this past week but do not be surprised if no one is celebrating over this one. Gas prices for Chicago and the Chicago suburbs reached the highest prices ever this past week at an average of $4.41 per gallon for regular unleaded gas, according to a AAA press release. The state of Illinois also has reached its highest prices ever with the average cost for a gallon of regular unleaded gas at $4.28, according to AAA. The previous record for gas prices was set in July 2008. AAA provided the following tips on how to conserve gas: Instead of making quick starts and sudden stops, go easy on the gas and brake pedals. If there is a red light ahead, ease off the gas and coast up to it rather than waiting until the …

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