Both statewide averages for the price of gasoline in Illinois and Northern Indiana have fallen during the past month primarily due to the recovery efforts in the Gulf after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. AAA Chicago's most recent Fuel Gauge Report estimates that in Illinois regular unleaded gasoline has decreased 24 cents over the past month, forecasting an average cost of $2.75 per gallon for the month of October and up 73 cents per gallon from last year.

In northern Indiana, gas prices average $2.69, which is down 26 cents from September and up 73 cents from October 2004.

  -- In Cook County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages
     $2.83, which is down 23 cents compared to last month and 71 cents
     higher than last year's price-per-gallon.
  -- In DuPage County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages
     $2.76 per gallon, which is a 22-cent decrease from September and 74
     cents higher than last year.
  -- In Kane County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages
     $2.75 per gallon, which is down 24 cents compared to last month and 72
     cents higher than October 2004's price.
  -- In Lake County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages
     $2.70 per gallon, which is down 26 cents in the last month and up by
     68 cents compared to this time last year.
  -- In McHenry County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages
     $2.71 per gallon, which down 28 cents from September's average and 68
     cents higher than October 2004's price.
  -- In Will County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages
     $2.77 per gallon, which is 20 cents lower compared to last month and
     78 cents higher compared to last year.
  -- In Allen County, Ind., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages
     $2.71 per gallon, which is a decrease of 22 cents from last month and
     68 cents higher than October 2004's price.
  -- In Lake County, Ind., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages
     $2.61 per gallon, a 32-cent decrease from September's average and a
     60-cent increase from a year ago.
  -- In St. Joseph County, Ind., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline
     averages $2.72 per gallon, which is down 15 cents compared to last
     month and an increase of 67 cents from October 2004.