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Expert: Refinery Issues Causing Higher Gas Prices For Chicago Area

CHICAGO (CBS) -- While the temperature may have you confused about what season it is, gas prices will tell you it's almost summer time, reports WBBM's Nancy Harty.

Expert: Refinery Issues Causing Higher Gas Prices For Chicago Area

Gasoline prices have gone up 8.6 cents-per-gallon in the past week in Chicago, putting the average gallon of unleaded here at $4.29 according to gasbuddy.com

Petroleum analyst Patrick DeHaan attributes it to refinery issues.

"This is a time of year when refineries are coming out of their seasonal maintenance. These facilities are very old, in some cases approaching or surpassing 100-years-old," said DeHaan.

He says when BP's Whiting refinery opens its expansion anytime in the next few months, prices will drop. It would be timely as gas is 29 cents a gallon higher in Chicago than year ago.

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