Illinois this week saw its biggest spike in gas prices since the war with Iran started, according to data.
The average price in Cook, Lake, and McHenry Counties all rose more than 15 cents since Wednesday. Lake County, Indiana, has the largest increase.
The average jumped 37 cents a gallon in just one day and Kenosha, which had been holding steady with the lowest gas prices, finally crossed over $4 dollars a gallon.
The collar counties were all up more than 20 cents overnight and into Thursday morning. DuPage County was up to $4.75 on average in that same time.
These high gas prices are forcing people to change their habits and cut back so they can fill up.
Several drivers told NBC Chicago they’re adjusting and doing things differently so they can get around.
“I’m going to cut back on groceries, going to cut back traveling,” said Kamar Ansari, a driver from Lisle. “You can’t like wander around for no reason, you have to go and come back and that’s it—simple.”
“I’m not driving that much,” said Susan Quandel, a driver from Chicago. “I’m driving very little so when I fill up it lasts a long time.”
“Before you’re able to go out, get something to eat, or just splurge a little bit now there’s not much you could splurge on because of the gas prices,” said driver Venus Carrasco.
“You gotta make less trips now. It’s getting to the point where you can’t really do what you want to do in a day,” said Shalamarr Springs, a driver from Chicago.
With Memorial Day right around the corner, AAA said drivers are adjusting vacation plans to save where they can.
“With gas prices so high, people are budgeting differently and if they’re going somewhere they might stay at a less expensive hotel or just do one night of fine dining and then do more casual and taking advantage of the free activities and outdoor places,” said Molly Hart, a spokeswoman for AAA The Auto Club Group.
Numerator, a Chicago-based consumer data and tech company, did a survey of the impact on gas prices. They surveyed more than 1,000 drivers earlier this month and found drivers are changing their routines, making adjustments, and cutting back on other expenses to afford gas.
In that same survey, 73% of drivers said they were spending less on things like dining out, traveling, and entertainment. A quarter of those drivers said they were also cutting back on everyday items, including groceries and household goods.
“Not comfortable at all, but what can you do, you don’t have no choice you have to live with it,” said Ansari.
“I just wish this would go away,” said Springs. “I just miss putting $25 dollars to fill up my tank up.”
