Labor Day Drivers Socked With Record Prices

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Your Labor Day road trip may be more expensive than ever.

Drivers in 45 states, including Illinois, will see some of the highest gas prices they've ever at this time of year, CBS 2's Susanna Song reports.

Chicago tops the nation when it comes to prices. The average is $4.35 a gallon.

Illinois is actually one of only eight states right now paying an average $4 a gallon or higher.

Usually at the end of summer, retail gas prices drop, but according to gasbuddy.com, it'll be a while before prices fall back to more tolerable levels.

Hurricane Isaac's timing has a lot to do with it, as it forced Gulf Coast refineries to close.

At the Des Plaines Oasis on Friday, drivers were noticing the difference.

"I only put $10 in," said Joe Rich. "It's too expensive and it makes no sense. There has been no damage, there has been no reports
of anything happening to the gas production in the gulf. And now they are raising prices anyway."

The national average is 18 cents more than one year ago.

If there's a silver lining, experts say prices at the pump are likely to fall through the weekend.

If you're taking a road trip somewhere and you're wondering which states will be spared from record-prices, they are Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and Alaska.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Dave Berner Reports