Gas prices spike in March for Chicago area - Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News

Another month, another record for gas prices in Illinois. AAA said this month started with the highest gas prices ever for the month March.

Average prices in the City of Chicago ring in at $4.22 a gallon. That's up $0.26 from a month ago.

Drivers in the Chicago suburbs are paying around $3.99 a gallon. That's up $0.17 a gallon from last month.

AAA said the sharp price spike was due to refinery maintenance, and a decline in refinery production.

The average price of gas in metro Chicago was $3.93 in February, a 30-cent increase from the February 2012 price of $3.63 per gallon, according to Beth Mosher, AAA Chicago spokeswoman.

"Gas prices increased dramatically in February ... primarily due to a decline in refinery production," she said.

"There is still maintenance to be done before the Midwest shifts to a summer blend of gasoline [and] motorists are likely to face continued high prices."

The average price of gasoline has increased 59 cents per gallon in Illinois and 54 cents in Indiana since the beginning of the year, which is the highest price increase through the end of February on record, according to AAA.

Around the area, the average price of a regular unleaded gas in February:

• Northern Indiana: $3.77, up 49 cents from January and 29 cents from February 2012.
• Cook County, $4.01, up 49 cents from January and 31 cents from a year ago.
• DuPage County, $3.87, up 48 cents from January and 30 cents from a year ago.
• Lake County, $3.84 per gallon, up 48 cents from January and 32 cents from a year ago.
• Kane County, $3.85 per gallon, up 49 cents from January and 31 from a year ago.
• McHenry County, $3.83, up 48 cents from January and 33 cents from a year ago.
• Will County, $3.85, up 49 cents from January and 32 cents from a year ago.

The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.