By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
Get our newsletter
ROCKFORD — Gasoline prices across the city have risen 16 cents per gallon over the past week to an average $3.35 per gallon, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 139 stations in Rockford.
The price of a gallon of fuel is 0.5 cents higher than a month ago and 93 cents higher than this time a year ago, according to the fuel savings company.
Meanwhile, the national average price of gasoline stands at $3.29 per gallon today. That is down 5.5 cents per gallon from a month ago and 97.5 cents per gallon higher than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.
Related: Analyst says $4 per gallon gasoline could arrive by spring
“Oil prices have remained stubbornly strong, touching nearly $80 per barrel last week, pushing gasoline prices higher even as U.S. gasoline demand starts to struggle,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, said in a news release. “Some of this is typical seasonal weakness, but the lack of demand is likely enhanced by omicron cases surging and Americans who are just a bit more hesitant to get out right now.”
More news: Loves Park plans ‘heavy duty’ resurfacing of Paulson Road
Political unrest in Kazakhstan, the 18th largest oil producer and continued unrest in Libya are also affecting oil production, De Haan said.
“Without improvement or stability in oil producing countries, we’re likely to continue to see upward pressure on oil prices,” he said.
Historical gas prices | Jan. 10
Year | Rockford | national average
2021: $2.42 | $2.31
2020: $2.58 | $2.59
2019: $1.99 | $2.25
2018: $2.56 | $2.51
2017: $2.37 | $2.36
2016: $1.87 | $1.97
2015: $1.98 | $2.14
2014: $3.33 | $3.30
2013: $3.24 | $3.31
2012: $3.48 | $3.37
Source: GasBuddy