Local News

Chicago Gas Prices Highest In U.S.

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Chicago has a dubious distinction: the highest gas prices in the country.

Drivers are experiencing real sticker shock at the pumps. For the first time, the average price of a gallon of gas is more than $4 in Chicago – about $4.07 – and likely to rise even higher.

New numbers show you'll pay more for gas here than even in New York City or Los Angeles.

In Chicago, nearly 80 cents of the price of every gallon of gas goes to city, county, state and federal taxes.

The ever-escalating fuel costs have some Illinois lawmakers and candidates like Peggy Brothman again asking for a suspension of the state gas tax for the summer, similar to a measure OK'd by former Gov. George Ryan in 2000. If the bill passed, proponents estimate it would save drivers about seventeen cents a gallon.

"While it's not going to solve all of their budget problems, I think it will bring a psychological boost of seeing the prices go down a little bit," said Brothman, a Republican candidate for the 44th District.

But a spokesperson for House Speaker Michael Madigan said it's unlikely the bill will ever get out of committee, adding its passage would only hurt the state's cash-strapped coffers.

And AAA spokesperson Beth Mosher says the 2000 suspension didn't really make a difference.
"Consumers found very little if any relief, but what's critical about this is the government and local municipalities were hit very, very hard," Mosher said.

In the South Loop, gas stations were selling for $4.25 a gallon. Prices were even higher a few miles north; $4.49 a gallon for regular gas at the intersection of Fullerton, Clybourn and Ashland.

Many motorists there purchased just enough fuel to drive to a location where gas might be cheaper.

Brett Kelly said, "I work out in the suburbs, where it's about 30 or 40 cents cheaper a gallon, so I'm getting at least enough to get me there, then I'll fill up over there."

"I'm definitely not filling my tank today," said motorist Jessica Van Dusen. "It's ridiculous. I'm not sure what to do about it but I've got to keep driving."

Robert Holifield, a driver for the Salvation Army, said, "It's just costing a lot of money, a lot of money, but what can you do about it? I need it to keep working."
"What you can do?" said driver Margaret Kubic. "You're not going to put your car in garage and walk."

The Federal Trade Commission, at the request of Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, has agreed to investigate the record prices.
"We've got to stop the price gauging that's going on. We have to also make sure that the oil companies are held accountable," Durbin said.

Durbin says he sent a letter to the federal trade commission on the matter and the Federal Trade Commission announced it will initiate an investigation into oil companies and profits.

CBS 2 West Suburban Bureau Chief Mike Puccinelli reports with the cost this high, the state is making sure drivers are getting every precious drop.

Bob Pankala is one of more than 25 inspectors in charge of checking Illinois gas station pumps to make sure they're selling their product as advertised.

His job includes making sure a gallon shown on the pump is a gallon fed into the gas tank.

"We probably reject 4 to 5 percent of gas pumps," Pankala said.

Those pumps are then shut down, often because customers aren't getting what they pay for.

"It might jump before you dispense gasoline or it might be on the short side of our tolerance," Pankala said.

Driver Henrey Coronado says he's often wondered if he's being shorted when he looks at the dollar amount ticking up.

"It's concerning. I wondering, is it right or not," Coronoado said.

And he's not alone in wondering if he's being ripped off. That's why these days customers are pleased to see the state regulators checking the pumps for accuracy.

"I think it's good because they could be shorting us," said driver Martin Zazatzi of Aurora.

The exact number of stations with pumps that were shorting customers was not available, but Pankala says complaints are up.

"They're definitely up with the price," he said.

That has customers like Ellis Bailey calling for even more inspections.

"They need to be checking every day," said Bailey, a truck driver.

If you think you have been the victim of price gouging, you can file a complaint with the State of Illinois. Click here for the state's Gas Price Monitoring Web site.

AAA estimates that motorists will take road trips this Memorial Day weekend, but they'll drive shorter distances and cut costs in other ways.

Spokeswoman Beth Mosher said, "They're traveling to Indianapolis or Wisconsin or making a weekend out of it in Michigan. What's interesting is they're also going to see family and friends, so that they don't have to pay for the hotel visits."

Mosher said those cutbacks are hurting the overall economy.

CBS 2's Joanie Lum, Dana Kozlov and Mike Puccinelli, and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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