Chicago Gas Rises Again While Diesel Eases After the Last Check

Chicago regular gasoline rose again in AAA’s July 31, 2026, price check, while diesel moved lower from the previous day. The separate trends leave gasoline users facing broader price increases, while diesel users are seeing a short-term easing that still comes with higher costs than a year ago.

AAA listed Chicago’s average regular gasoline price at $4.696 per gallon on July 31. That was up 2.8 cents from the previous day’s $4.668 and 9.6 cents above the week-ago average of $4.600.

Regular gas is higher across every comparison window

The latest Chicago regular-gas average was also above the month-ago price of $4.550 and the year-ago price of $3.826. Drivers are therefore paying more than they were at each of those comparison points, not just more than they did in the last daily check.

For commuters and households that rely on gasoline-powered cars, the effect will depend on mileage, vehicle efficiency and how often a vehicle is refueled. A higher per-gallon average can add pressure to weekly transportation budgets even when individual price changes appear small.

Diesel eased daily but remains above last year

AAA’s City of Chicago diesel average was $5.769 per gallon on July 31. Diesel fell 2.1 cents from the previous day’s $5.790, but it was 2.9 cents higher than the week-ago average of $5.740.

Diesel was below the month-ago average of $5.870, while remaining well above the year-ago average of $4.088. The result is a mixed picture: diesel has eased from a month earlier and from the previous daily check, but it remains more expensive than it was a year ago and slightly higher than last week.

That distinction matters for delivery fleets, contractors, service companies, restaurants that depend on deliveries and other operations using diesel vehicles or equipment. A daily decline does not necessarily remove longer-term cost pressure when the current average remains elevated compared with last year.

Broader fuel context

The latest available U.S. Energy Information Administration weekly data, dated July 27, listed Chicago regular gasoline at $4.129 per gallon. That figure is older and follows a different reporting schedule than AAA’s July 31 City of Chicago average, so it provides broader context rather than a replacement for the current local pump-price check.

For local fuel users, the main point is the split movement. Gasoline is higher across the daily, weekly, monthly and yearly comparisons available from AAA. Diesel is lower than the previous day and month, but higher than the previous week and year.

Where are you seeing the highest and lowest pump prices in Chicago? Share the neighborhood or nearby intersection and the fuel type so other readers can compare local prices.

Sources

• AAA Fuel Prices — Illinois, City of Chicago
• EIA Weekly Retail Gasoline and Diesel Prices