Analysts forecast gas prices to begin declining

Average retail gasoline prices in Illinois have fallen 3.2 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $4.09 per gallon yesterday.

This compares with the national average that has increased 1.3 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.81 per gallon, according to gasoline price website IllinoisGasPrices.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Illinois during the past week, prices yesterday were 23.1 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 5.5 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 14.6 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 14.9 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.

"Even with Isaac long gone, the oil industry is still bringing capacity back online- at refineries and oil rigs, which is keeping pressure on prices," said GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. "Supply remains tight across the country as we slowly approach the transition to winter-spec gasoline, but I continue to be firm in believing that the national average will start to decline towards the end of September, as is typically the case," DeHaan said.