Crude oil rises, gas prices may follow

Crude oil rises, gas prices may follow

July 8, 2026/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Illinoisans are bracing for higher prices at the pump after the United States resumed military action against Iran, but a AAA spokesperson says the situation is too volatile to know how much gas prices might rise.

President Donald Trump said the U.S. launched the latest strikes after Iran attacked three tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

“It’s the denuclearization of Iran. We’re going to de-nuke it. We’re not gonna let them because they’re crazy, and they can’t have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said at a NATO summit in Turkey.

AAA spokesperson Molly Hart said it’s too early to know how much prices could increase.

“The situation is just too volatile to predict where the prices might go, but what we do know is gas prices rise like a rocket and fall like a feather,” Hart told The Center Square.

The average Illinois price for regular unleaded was $3.99 on Wednesday, up from $3.975 the day before.

The national average was up less than a penny at $3.80.

Hart said geopolitical events can make the price of gas jump.

“What a lot of people don’t know is a lot of what we pay at the pump is due to the price of a barrel of crude oil. If it’s around $70, we’re not paying the high prices, but once it goes $80 and above, that’s where we see a lot more pain at the pump,” Hart said.

U.S. crude oil jumped more than 6.5% to $75 per barrel on Wednesday.

To save gas, Hart recommended removing excess weight from vehicles and combining errands whenever possible.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Illinois quick hits: Pritzker pauses data center tax credits

Illinois quick hits: Pritzker pauses data center tax credits

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Pritzker pauses data center tax credits Gov. J.B. Pritzker has ordered the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to pause...
U.S. adds 172k jobs in 'strong' May report, unemployment remains at 4.3%

U.S. adds 172k jobs in ‘strong’ May report, unemployment remains at 4.3%

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. economy added 172,000 jobs in May's better-than-expected report while the unemployment rate remained at 4.3%, according to data released Friday by the U.S....
Colorado governor vetoes legislation allowing ICE to be sued

Colorado governor vetoes legislation allowing ICE to be sued

By Liam HibbertThe Center Square Colorado Gov. Jared Polis vetoed a Democrat-backed bill on Wednesday that would have allowed citizens to sue immigration enforcement officers for civil rights violations. The...
Colorado governor vetoes legislation allowing ICE to be sued

Colorado governor vetoes legislation allowing ICE to be sued

By Liam HibbertThe Center Square Colorado Gov. Jared Polis vetoed a Democrat-backed bill on Wednesday that would have allowed citizens to sue immigration enforcement officers for civil rights violations. The...
Ballots processed slowly as Californians await 36-day count

Ballots processed slowly as Californians await 36-day count

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square It will be more than a month before Californians see the official results from Tuesday's primary. That is especially the case in the races for...
Ballots processed slowly as Californians await 36-day count

Ballots processed slowly as Californians await 36-day count

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square It will be more than a month before Californians see the official results from Tuesday's primary. That is especially the case in the races for...

WATCH: WA mayor stands by pro-ICE, anti-Antifa proclamations

By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square The city of Battle Ground has been getting more attention this week than the small southwest Washington community typically receives, due to national coverage of...
U.S. House narrowly passes bill to fund USDA, FDA in 2027

U.S. House narrowly passes bill to fund USDA, FDA in 2027

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Less than four months before fiscal year 2027 begins, the U.S. House passed the second of the 12 annual appropriations bills that will fund the...
Military advocates concerned about active-duty voters

Military advocates concerned about active-duty voters

By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court could eliminate grace periods for mail-in ballots for overseas voters, officials from voting rights advocacy organizations said on Thursday. In a...
Ruling: Illinois Supreme Court likely overstepped in ousting of Cook County judge

Ruling: Illinois Supreme Court likely overstepped in ousting of Cook County judge

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square A federal judge says he believes a Cook County judge has leveled serious accusations against the Illinois Supreme Court for trampling his...
Illinois passes law to restrict new federal migrant detention centers

Illinois passes law to restrict new federal migrant detention centers

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Lawmakers passed a bill last weekend that will heavily restrict where immigration detention centers can operate in...
Alcohol tax amendments may be unconstitutional

Alcohol tax amendments may be unconstitutional

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois government officials have proposed amending the way the state taxes alcohol, but the changes may not...
Illinois quick hits: Lawsuit filed over drunk driving deal involving noncitizen

Illinois quick hits: Lawsuit filed over drunk driving deal involving noncitizen

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Lawsuit filed over drunk driving deal involving noncitizen A Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed with Urbana, Illinois, claims the city...
Michigan township denies solar expansion after months of controversy

Michigan township denies solar expansion after months of controversy

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square After months of public opposition, a southwest Michigan township has voted to deny an expansion for a utility-scale solar project. The Fayette Township Planning Commission...
Researchers put a number on how much debt U.S. can carry

Researchers put a number on how much debt U.S. can carry

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The United States has about 20 years to change course on its national debt before it reaches the estimated limits of its debt capacity, according...