OPEC deal will push pump prices higher
AURORA, Ill., Dec. 5, 2016 — Drivers in Illinois and northern Indiana are paying more at the pump this week and prices will move even higher based on an agreement reached by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). OPEC announced plans to cut crude oil production by 1.2 million barrels a day to 32.5 million a day, effective in January 2017. The shift is aimed at draining a global oversupply that led to lower fuel prices in the last two years.
Analysts believe the OPEC agreement could boost crude prices by $5 or more, which would directly lead to increases of at least 13 cents at the pump. Retail prices were already rising this week based on the expectation that a deal would be reached. Illinois and Indiana drivers are currently paying on average $2.21 and $2.17 respectively for a gallon of regular unleaded. These prices are respectively up from $2.16 and $2.05 from a month ago.
“Unfortunately, now that the OPEC deal has been made, drivers will likely see prices climb even higher as the price of oil jumps,” said Beth Mosher, director of public affairs for AAA Chicago.
While prices are rising after the OPEC deal, overall across Illinois and Indiana, drivers paid very reasonable prices last month. In November in Illinois, gas prices averaged $2.14, which was down $.13 from October, and just $.02 less than a year ago. In northern Indiana, gas prices averaged $2.03 in November, which was down $.11 from October and down $.01 from November 2015.
Other November monthly averages across the region:
•In Cook County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.37, which is down $.11 from last month and even with last year’s price-per-gallon.
•In DuPage County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.18 per gallon, which is a $.12 decrease from October and down $.02 from last year.
•In Kane County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.14 per gallon, which is down $.14 compared to last month and $.01 lower than November 2015’s price.
•In Lake County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.14 per gallon, which is $.14 lower than last month and down by $.02 compared to this time last year.
•In McHenry County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.13 per gallon, which is $.13 lower than last month’s average and even with last year’s price per gallon.
•In Will County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.10 per gallon, which is $.16 lower compared to last month and $.04 lower compared to last year.
•In Champaign County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $1.98 per gallon, a decrease of $.10 from September and $.01 lower than last year.
•In McLean County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $1.98 per gallon, which is $.15 lower than last month and $.02 lower than last year.
•In Peoria County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.00 per gallon, which is down $.15 compared to last month and even with last year’s price per gallon.
•In Sangamon County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.02 per gallon, which is $.10 lower than last month and $.06 lower than last year.
•In Winnebago County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.07 per gallon, a decrease of $.12 from October and $.09 lower than November 2015.
•In Allen County, Ind., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.00 per gallon, which is $.14 lower than last month and $.01 lower than November 2015’s price.
•In Lake County, Ind., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.03 per gallon, which is down $.10 from October’s average and is even with last year’s price.
•In Porter County, Ind., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.04 per gallon, which is $.12 lower than last month and $.01 lower than last year.
•In St. Joseph County, Ind., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $2.06 per gallon, which is $.13 lower compared to last month and even with last year’s price.
Fuel prices are posted on-line at www.fuelgaugereport.com, which updates prices daily for unleaded, diesel and E85 blends of fuel.
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The Auto Club Group (ACG) is the second largest AAA club in North America. ACG and its affiliates provide membership, travel, insurance and financial services offerings to approximately 9 million members across 11 states and two U.S. territories including Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; most of Illinois and Minnesota; and a portion of Indiana. ACG belongs to the national AAA federation with nearly 55 million members in the United States and Canada and whose mission includes protecting and advancing freedom of mobility and improving traffic safety.