IL Gas Prices Continue Falling: AAA

After a summer of painfully high gas prices, drivers are beginning to experience continually falling process across Illinois, according to AAA.

The average price for a regular gallon of gas across Illinois was $4.38 on Wednesday, down 26 cents from a week ago and 32 cents from last month, according to AAA.

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Even so, the state's average price is almost $1 more than the state average a year ago, AAA said. It also remains 44 cents above Wednesday's national average.

The Chicago average continues to top both the state and national average. On Wednesday, drivers fueling up in the city were paying an average of $4.78 for a gallon of gas, though the price fell 27 cents compared to last week.

GasBuddy Analysis Patrick De Haan pointed to several reasons for the recent drop, including refinery maintenance that helped level demand. He also noted that more oil was moving through the Strait of Hormuz, amid the U.S. conflict with Iran.

"That said, the election's outcome may send a message to Washington to sharpen its focus on affordability, and I'd expect even more attention on bringing prices down," De Haan said. "But for now, it's the seasonal shift, not politics, driving the relief at the pump."