Illinois drivers may feel a little shell-shocked about an unexpected spike in gas prices. The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline was $2.84 in the state as of this morning, according to GasBuddy.com. In some parts of the state, prices have jumped 30 to 40 cents in the last several days.
The cause? A malfunction in the largest unit of the BP refinery in Whiting, Indiana over the weekend, according to GasBuddy senior petroleum analyst Patrick DeHaan.
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DeHaan says a refinery issue in Indiana is the only roadblock to keep lower gas prices from returning.
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Gas prices in Clinton, Maroa, Wapella, Heyworth, and Monticello range from $2.88 to $2.99.