Gas prices jump 44 cents in Rockford as nation heads toward all-time highs

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The average price of a gallon of gas in the city rose nearly 44 cents in the last week to $4.21 today, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 139 stations here.

Rockford gas prices are nearly 66 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and $1.36 higher than a year ago.

Prices at the pump are soaring here and across the nation to near record highs after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which led to sanctions crippling Russia’s ability to export crude oil.

“We’ve never been in this situation before, with this level of uncertainty. As we lose a major global producer under the weight of deserving bipartisan sanctions for invading a sovereign country, the cost is high,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in a news release. “Americans will be feeling the pain of the rise in prices for quite some time, with little good news foreseen.”

Related: Rockford launches relief effort for Ukrainian sister city in crisis

On Sunday, the national average price of a gallon of gas surpassed $4 for the first time since 2008. It’s just four cents below the all-time national average high of $4.103 per gallon set on July 17, 2008.

“There are few words to describe the unprecedented rise in gasoline prices over the last week, with massive spikes coast to coast in both gasoline and diesel prices, as oil prices jump to their highest since 2008,” De Haan said. “Forget the $4 per gallon mark, the nation will soon set new all-time record highs and we could push closer to a national average of $4.50/gal. California could be heading for $5.50 per gallon with more stations charging $6 and beyond.”

The national average price of gasoline is up 46.5 cents per gallon in the last week to $4.06 today, according to GasBuddy. The national average is up 61 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands $1.29 higher than this time last year.

Related: ‘One of the strongest tools we have when we feel helpless’: Rockford faithful pray for Ukraine

March 7 Rockford gas prices | 10-year history

Year | Rockford | National average

2021: $2.84 | $2.77
2020: $2.32 | $2.37
2019: $2.41 | $2.46
2018: $2.47 | $2.53
2017: $2.27 | $2.30
2016: $1.77 | $1.81
2015: $2.39 | $2.46
2014: $3.64 | $3.49
2013: $3.80 | $3.72
2012: $3.84 | $3.76

Source: GasBuddy