Illinois gasoline stations have been put on notice that authorities are watching them for any price gouging in the event Tropical Storm Isaac disrupts fuel supplies from the Gulf of Mexico.
Under state law, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan says her office can investigate gas prices in cases where a natural disaster disrupts supply.
She said Wednesday her office will be watching to see if price increases are justified by a spike in wholesale prices or if they're the result of illegal gouging.
Madigan says Illinois drivers hitting the roads during the Labor Day weekend should expect to see higher prices, in part because of the storm.
Chicago's average price stands at $4.34 a gallon, according to GasBuddy.com. That's about 55 cents more than the $3.79 a gallon we were paying a month ago. At the BP at Wabash Avenue and Roosevelt Road on Monday morning, regular unleaded was at $4.44.
Isaac was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm Wednesday as it moved slowly across Louisiana.
Illinois Warns Gas Stations Against Price Gouging
Lisa Madigan says her office is watching Illinois gas stations to prevent any price gouging
Copyright AP - Associated Press
