Reports of gas prices spiking in central and southern Illinois led students and DeKalb residents to hit the gas pumps, fearing a similar spike in this area today.

Area gas stations were inundated with customers trying to get their gas, as prices remained unchanged in DeKalb throughout the afternoon and early evening hours yesterday.

“My friend told me she heard on the news that gas was going to go up to $6 a gallon,” said Julie Miller, a senior elementary education major.

Miller said she believes that the prices will go up to $6 a gallon, and that’s why she was filling up her tank at Clark Retail Enterprises Inc., 125 N. Annie Glidden Road.

Miller also expressed her concern about the availability of other supplies.

“I wonder what grocery stores will be like — water will probably be in demand,” Miller said.

Edith Roman, a senior health administration major, also expressed her concern about water while filling her gas tank at the Clark station.

“I know everything is going to go up in price now — especially things like water,” Roman said.

Not everybody who is concerned about gas is as concerned about other supplies, though.

“I’m not concerned about anything else right now, just gas,” junior marketing major Jennifer Klewer said, as she filled her tank at 7-Eleven, 930 N. Annie Glidden Road. “They control our gas over there, and I heard that gas could go up to $9 a gallon.”

Not everyone believes that the prices will go up, but they want to be ready in case they do.

“My daughter told me that gas prices would be over $2 tomorrow,” said Jesse Moore, a 42-year resident of DeKalb. “I don’t care if the prices do go up or not — I’m going to have a full tank of gas anyway.”

Ill. Attorney General Jim Ryan told WBBM News Radio that he has sent investigators to central and southern Illinois to investigate the reports of price gouging and intends to make sure that gas station prices stay within the guidelines set by consumer protection acts.