CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Fuel prices in Champaign are now back on the downward trend ahead of summer travel.
The average cost per gallon rose 3.2 cents in the past week, for a total of $3.56 per gram, GasBuddy said. GasBuddy surveyed his 79 gas stations in Champaign and found prices were 4.2 cents lower than last month and 21.1 cents lower than last year.
The cheapest station in Champaign on Sunday was priced at $3.33 per gram, while the most expensive station was priced at $3.82 per gram, a difference of almost 50 cents. Statewide, the lowest gasoline price on Sunday was $3.18 per gram and the highest price was $5.29 per gram.
GasBuddy also collects data from more than 11 million weekly price reports from more than 150,000 gas stations nationwide. According to their findings, the national average for diesel prices fell 3.4 cents from last week to $3.94 per gram. Meanwhile, gasoline fell 1 cent per gallon to $3.62 per gram. This is an increase of 2.7 cents from last month and 11.1 cents from last year.
Although prices may rise in Champaign, GasBuddy's head of oil analysis Patrick de Haan said the overall picture looks promising.
“We are seeing the national average slightly lower again as oil prices cool and the spring peak looks more firmly behind us,” he said. “While last week's refinery utilization rates showed that refinery maintenance work still remains, oil prices are putting downward pressure on gasoline prices, with oil prices falling below $80 per barrel last week. Ta.”
DeHaan also predicted that U.S. demand for gasoline and diesel could remain low through the summer driving season after weaker-than-expected jobs numbers.
For a complete data map, please visit price.gasbuddy.com.
