Gas prices in Illinois have seen a modest increase over the past week, rising 5 cents per gallon to an average of $3.46 per gallon, based on GasBuddy’s survey of 4,378 stations across the state. Compared to a month ago, prices are up 10 cents per gallon but remain 36 cents lower than this time last year. Diesel prices have also stayed higher nationwide, with the national average increasing 3 cents in the past week to $3.68 per gallon.

In Illinois, gas prices varied significantly, with the cheapest station reporting a price of $2.75 per gallon and the most expensive at $4.79, a difference of $2.04. Peoria drivers are now paying an average of $3.36 per gallon, up 9 cents from last week. In Champaign, prices have risen by 10 cents to $3.29 per gallon. Meanwhile, St. Louis saw a decrease of 1 cent, bringing the city’s average to $2.97 per gallon.

The national average price of regular gasoline has continued to trend downward, dropping 3.8 cents per gallon over the last week to an average of $3.14 per gallon. That amount is slightly higher than a month ago at this time but is still 32.1 cents lower than a year ago, according to data compiled from over 150,000 gas stations nationwide.

GasBuddy also released its Independence Day forecast, predicting the national average will fall to $3.15 per gallon by July 4th. That would mark the lowest holiday average since 2021, nearly 35 cents cheaper than last year’s price. The forecast cites easing tensions in the Middle East and increased oil output from ‘OPEC’ as key reasons behind the recent decline in prices.

Looking back at fuel prices over the past decade, Illinois drivers were paying $3.82 per gallon at this time last year and $5.40 per gallon in 2022. In contrast, the lowest price in the last ten years came in 2020, when gas averaged just $2.31 per gallon across the state.

More data and real-time updates are available at GasBuddy’s website, which tracks prices nationwide with reports updated hundreds of times daily.