Gas prices in Illinois have risen 3.8 cents per gallon in the past week, with an average of $2.46 per gallon on Jan. 17, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 4,378 stations in Illinois. Compared to the national average of $2.38 per gallon in the last week, gas seems to be a little pricer in Illinois; however, there was a national increase of 4.2 cents per gallon.

Gas prices on Jan. 17 in Illinois were 5.3 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, but are 20.8 cents per gallon higher than they were a month ago. This is a trend that was also seen on the national level, with prices being 17.4 cents lower than a year ago, but 15.6 cents per gallon higher than they were last month.

“Gas prices have jumped to yet another multi-month high as crude oil price rise amidst perceived improvement in the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to pump prices up as demand shows renewed signs of recovery,” said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy in a news release.

“The upward trend in gas prices may slow from the sharp rise in the last week, but motorists shouldn’t expect much of a break from rising gas prices, which now stand less than twenty cents from their year-ago levels,” he said.