Illinois motorists might take little comfort knowing U.S. drivers paid the lowest springtime gas prices in three years when they learn the state has the highest per-gallon price for gasoline in the continental U.S.
AAA reports Illinois retailers charged an average of $3.947 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline May 1, 2013. The Illinois average for a gallon of midgrade fuel that same day was $4.121, for premium was $4.369 and for diesel was $4.022.
In Iowa, motorists were paying an average of $3.421 May 1 for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline. Midgrade was $3.334, premium was $3.601 and diesel was $3.733.
The May 1 national average for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline was $3.522. That’s a little below the April 2013 national average of $3.55 per gallon. A year ago, the national average was $3.809.
The highest per-gallon average in the entire U.S. was in Hawaii at $4.343 per gallon of regular unleaded. It was also the only state with an average per-gallon price over $4 on May 1.
The lowest per-gallon average in the U.S. was in South Carolina where the price was $3.223.
AAA reports if current oil prices trends continue, gas prices should drop to a national average between $3.20 and $3.40 per gallon by mid-summer.