By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The average cost of a gallon of gas in the city has fallen for the first time in nine weeks, although it doesn’t offer much relief at the pump.
Gasoline prices fell nearly 2 cents per gallon to an average of $5.24 on Monday, according to GasBuddy’s analysis of 139 stations in the city. The cheapest station in the city offered gas at $4.89 a gallon Sunday while the most expensive stood at $5.39, according to GasBuddy.
The national average cost also fell for the first time in more than two months, dropping more than 4 cents per gallon to $4.97. The national average is up more than 37 cents per gallon in the past month and $1.92 higher than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data from more than 150,000 stations in the country.
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“Finally some relief! For the first time in nine weeks, gasoline prices have fallen, following a broad sell-off in oil markets last week, pushing the national average back under the $5 level with most states seeing relief at the pump,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in a news release. “I’m hopeful the trend may continue this week, especially as concerns appear to be mounting that we may be on the cusp of an economic slowdown, putting downward pressure on oil.”
Gas prices in Rockford and across the country haven’t been below $4 a gallon to start the week since Feb. 28. De Haan said prices could continue to fall before the Fourth of July holiday.
“But the coast isn’t yet entirely clear,” DeHaan said. “We could see the national average fall another 15 to 30 cents, if we’re lucky, by the time fireworks are flying, barring any unexpected shutdowns at a time when the market is extremely sensitive to such.”
June 20 gas prices | 10-year history
Year | Rockford average per gallon | national average
2021: $3.16 | $3.05
2020: $2.24 | $2.12
2019: $2.66 | $2.66
2018: $2.85 | $2.87
2017: $2.22 | $2.28
2016: $2.55 | $2.33
2015: $2.82 | $2.80
2014: $3.77 | $3.68
2013: $3.89 | $3.60
2012: $3.63 | $3.48
Source: GasBuddy
