Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Two agencies that monitor the price of gasoline in Illinois say prices have gone down in the past week.

According to GasBuddy.com, the average price for a gallon of unleaded for Illinois was at $3.18 a gallon Monday morning, a decline of 9.8 cents per gallon over the last week.

AAA lists its Illinois gas price average as being at $3.21, also a decline.

Gas prices in Sangamon County are, for the most part, lower.  GasBuddy’s price ranges in the area from $2.96 to $3.31 a gallon.  The most expensive gas prices are in the southeast side of the city.  AAA lists a Sangamon County gas price average at $3.13 a gallon.

“Americans appear to be on the cusp of seeing the national average drop below $3 per gallon for the first time in years, as prices have fallen across the vast majority of the country,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, in a news release. “With well over 40 states seeing gas prices decline and oil plunging below $60 per barrel to end the week, the good news may not end if — and when — the national average hits that magical $2.99 mark. We could even see a handful of stations in places like Oklahoma, Texas, or even Wisconsin drop below $2 per gallon in the weeks ahead — something not seen since the pandemic. In addition, with wages up and gas prices down, Americans are spending the smallest share of their paycheck on gasoline in many years.”