.
Feedback

Gas Watch: Prices Continue to Fall

There's a fuss over New Lenox's gas prices. How much more are they compared to neighboring towns?

Because Mayor Tim Baldermann and New Lenox residents have put such a focus on the , we want to track whether the prices actually drop and what they are compared to neighboring towns.

On April 23, when Baldermann called for a boycott of New Lenox gas stations, prices for unleaded fuel here were $4.20/gallon. Area stations were anywhere from $3.89/gallon to $4.14/gallon.

Check back every once in a while for a rundown of local prices as well as gas prices in Frankfort, Mokena, Manhattan, Joliet and Homer Glen. 

Soon after the boycott we dropped to be competitive, then prices shot up (but were still competitive). Then we were more expensive than everyone for a while, but now prices are competitive and low(er). What will happen next? Manhattan is always a bit lower, Joliet is typically a bit higher. Frankfort and Mokena are usually a good gague. 

Find local gas prices on Patch's Commuter Guide.

Prices are for one gallon of regular gas. Prices listed are as of 1 p.m., June 6. The prices in parentheses denote the costs of the last update.

New Lenox Gas Prices 

  • $3.75  at 1101 W. Laraway Road (Was $3.82)
  • $3.75 Speedway at 570 Laraway Road (Was $3.82)
  • $3.75 Speedway at 800 W. Route 30 (Was $3.82)
  • $3.75 Speedway at 939 S. Cedar Road (Was $3.82)
  • $3.75 Speedway at 301 W. Route 30 (Was $3.82)
  • $3.75 Shell at 475 N. Nelson Road (Was $3.82)
  • $3.89  at 103 E. Route 30 (No change)

Previous update was at 1 p.m. June 1

Gas Prices in Neighboring Towns

  • Frankfort: All stations at $3.72.
  • Homer Glen: Ranges from $3.71 to $3.75.
  • Joliet: Ranges from $3.67 to $3.99.
  • Manhattan: Ranges from $3.69 to $3.89.
  • Mokena: Ranges from $3.71 to $3.72.

Sources and other nearby prices: GasBuddy and AOL Autos

Marie May 1, 2012 at 11:37 am
Wow - I can't believe some of you are hoping a local business closes down. If you don't like the price at the pump, get your gas somewhere else. They probably make more from you buying their large diet Cokes, coffee, candy and hot dogs, anyway. What is really disturbing is that so many of you support an elected official going after local business owners.
Kathleen Root May 1, 2012 at 12:02 pm
These aren't "local business owners", these are large corporations, the same corporations who charge .10-.15 cents a gallon less in neighboring towns. The mayor is asking them to bring the price in line with what the oter towns are paying, not to overcharge New Lenox residents "because they will pay it."
Marie May 1, 2012 at 12:25 pm
I beg to differ with your point, Kathleen. The only way residents can be considered "overcharged" is if they buy the gas, and that is even a stretch of an argument because they choose to buy the gas in the first place.
They are local business owners when they are located in our community, paying their taxes, employing people, providing a service, all legally. Maybe we should bring school registration fees down and in line with other neighboring communities, using your logic.
Mary Beth Lubert May 1, 2012 at 01:06 pm
I think that would be a great idea Marie. The school registration fees are getting ridiculous. If other communities are lower, why isn't New Lenox? In response to your first comment, I haven't bought gas in New Lenox in probably a year. It's sad, though, that I can't buy gas in my own community because they are gouging us...I will happily drive to the next town over if I can save sometimes over 20 cents/gallon. Who wouldn't? Hats off to Mayor Balderman for going public with something that the rest of us were complaining about...but who listens to us???
Marie May 1, 2012 at 01:29 pm
Mary Beth, I believe there are many factors involved with the price of gas in every particular community. I do not think it is appropriate for elected officials to single out certain businesses in their own community, but apparently many people think it is (until their businesses get singled out, I guess).
Kimberly May 1, 2012 at 08:36 pm
Hmmmm, freedom of choice ..... darn it, why didn't I think of that? I'm going to guess that you either work at a New Lenox gas station or have a personal axe to grind with Mayor Baldermann. More power to you Marie, if you like paying more for gasoline in New Lenox, I think that is wonderful. If other New Lenox residents prefer to pay less in Frankfort, or Mokena, or Orland, I think that is wonderful also. Its all about choice, and if I support Mayor Baldermann, that's my choice, as its your choice to find it disturbing.
Marie May 1, 2012 at 09:30 pm
Kimberly, guessing is just that - and your guesses are wrong. Last week it was berating gas stations in our own community. What will be next?
Bob McLaughlin May 1, 2012 at 10:19 pm
So much for the low prices. This morning it was $4.02 at Speedway on 30. This afternoon it is $4.25. But it is still $3.98 in Frankfort and $3.89 in Manhattan according to GasBuddy.com. I know where I will keep buying gas and it is NOT in New Lenox.
Michael Sewall (Editor) May 1, 2012 at 10:23 pm
@Bob GasBuddy relies on people's reporting, so it's often not updated and inaccurate. There are some stations in Mokena and Frankfort that are up to $4.25 this afternoon as well.
Kimberly May 1, 2012 at 10:37 pm
Just got gas at 7-11 at Nelson and Laraway - $3.98 a gallon, and they are packed with people filling up.
Bob McLaughlin May 1, 2012 at 10:38 pm
@Michael, you are correct that the GasBuddy prices are reported and perhaps there has been no reporting from Manhattan but GasBuddy did have the $4.25 updates for New Lenox posted. The point of my post was informational. Maybe there is a reason for a 25 cent increase in price per gallon but I sure can't find one. Basically, in this economy, we have to shop around and use the tools that are provided if you want to save money. Don't go out of your way to buy a lower price gallon because you are probably diluting that savings by the cost of driving to get the lower price. It is really up to the individual.
Jill May 2, 2012 at 12:39 am
I noticed tonight driving thru mokena, frankfort and new lenox, ALL the Speedway station were at $4.25 reg. gallon.
Maybe speedway Corp. office told them all to charge the same price, that way they can tell the mayor new lenox is no higher than surrounding stations. Just a thought.
lala May 2, 2012 at 01:16 am
Marathon Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:MPC) today reported first quarter net income of $596 million, or $1.70 per diluted share, compared with net income of $529 million, or $1.48 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2011.
hazelgreen May 2, 2012 at 02:26 am
I've found gasbuddy to be accurate most times. In fact, I drove to 7-11 tonight for 3.98 based on gasbuddy. I was not about to pay 4.25 and further add to Speedway's pockets. They are turning into another Gas City.
Michael Sewall (Editor) May 2, 2012 at 11:48 am
GasBuddy is usually accurate, just delayed.
Kevin Brennan May 2, 2012 at 12:03 pm
Beyond all of the bantering over whether it's a good thing our Mayor has taken the gas companies to task, the fact rmains that it is our current Government that encourages and allows this to continue. Drilling moratoriums, encating legislation that stops construction of pipelines ect are all contributing factors in this dilema. What I can tell you for certain is that the prices are breaking the back of our fragile economy. Wat we have seen as a mild rebound in our economy has been destroyed by the latest round of oil price speculaton, just as the first round of gas over four dollars a gallon did several years ago. Instead of vilifying the "Corperations" as our crrent leadership wants us all to focus on, we should be focused on effeciently utilizing the resource and enableing our Country to work towards a soution to the problem. Our current administration encourages the wanton degradation of "Corperations" ..... watch the right hand and pay no attention to the left!
Tony May 2, 2012 at 05:57 pm
I went by Thortons on essington and Theodore at 8.oclock this mornong and gas was 3.98 a gallon, went by again at 1:30 this afternoon and it was 4.25 a gallon, thats 27 cents a gallon.Some goverment agency and I don;t care if it is local or federal, needs to get involved in this price gouging. What happened , did Obama become the favorite by a large margin again, thats what this crap is all about, oil companies getting involved in the Presidential election.
Serge Storms May 2, 2012 at 06:58 pm
Only one word here: GREED....remember when the market crashed and gas was under $2.00 a gallon. My 401k is doing great now, but then the Oil companies take it way. Gas prices are controlled by GREED and what ever stupid news story that comes up.
Terry Davisson May 2, 2012 at 10:38 pm
So much for the boycott. All the stations raised their prices.The fact that each station raised the price 25cents a gallon proves price rigging by all of them. Now it will trickle down by 1 or 2 cents a gallon and they will have all made up their profits lost in the last week when they lowered their prices.What excuse are they going to use this time for the spike in the price? They always have one.
Susan Deneen May 8, 2012 at 11:58 am
Just bought gas today in Mokena for $3.99 vs New Lenox at $4.07. Thank God for Gas Buddy. It lets your fingers do the walking.
Denise May 8, 2012 at 01:08 pm
Frustrated:
Sunday gas was 3.68 in Ottawa, 3.73 in Marsalles, 3.79 in Manhattan and of course it was 4.09 here in New Lenox. This is price gouging at its prime..40 cents difference in a 40 mile radius. Why!!!
RON GERENCHER May 9, 2012 at 01:38 am
$3.73 AT THE Mobil in Morris today 5-8-12.
mark May 9, 2012 at 11:59 am
Government tax is 49.9 cents per gallon and you cry over 10-20 cents
Matt May 10, 2012 at 09:56 am
While $4.07 is a lot for a gallon of gas, think of how much it was just a month or so ago. I remember seeing the NL stations go from $4.29 to $4.55 in ONE DAY!! That was rediculous. It capped at that which I believe was an all-time high in the history of gas prices for those stations, or Chicagoland in general. Even on Gasbuddy, Chicago's average wasn't even $4.55. That was extreme.
Anyways, at $4.07 that's more than 10% less than it was. It's still priced very high for where gas should be in this recovering economy, but its a step on the right road.
Ed May 10, 2012 at 11:01 pm
The US Dollar definitely buys less than it used to, and gasoline isn't the only thing rising in price. But I still ask the question, considering everything that has to be done to produce a gallon of product available for sale - is a gallon of milk cheap or is a gallon of gasoline expensive?
Ed May 10, 2012 at 11:03 pm
I'm curious how far the "summer gasoline blend" requirements extend geographically, as that could possible play a role, but I have a hard time believing the dividing line is between New Lenox and Manhattan :)
Susan Deneen May 17, 2012 at 11:30 am
Paid $3.95 last night in New Lenox. I was too low to make it to Mokena where gas was a full 10 cents cheaper. Why do New Lenox gas stations do this to their fellow residents?
Kimberly May 17, 2012 at 11:44 am
We've taken Mayor Baldermann's suggestion of a boycott one step further, we will not buy gasoline in New Lenox. We never let our tanks drop below 1/2 full, so we are never in a position that we have to buy gas locally. Its a shame that the stations here in New Lenox will suffer, but they brought this upon themselves.
Kimberly May 19, 2012 at 03:51 pm
UPDATE:
Speedway on Front Street & Wolf - $3.79 Speedway on Route 30 & Wolf - $3.79 Speedway on Laraway & Calistoga - $3.89 Once again, I purchased gas OUTSIDE of New Lenox.
Mary poppins June 2, 2012 at 08:13 pm
I just got gas in CHannahon for $3.63. Its always at least 20 cents higher in New Lenox so I make sure I get gas out there instead.

Newsletter & Alerts

Get the best stories each day and important breaking news

Subscribe

Not from New Lenox Patch? Find your Local Patch »

Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Cheri June 15, 2013 at 07:02 pm
canceling cardinal-- it will be a workout driving on RT 30 mess
MartCHawk June 17, 2013 at 07:18 am
People coming from the east will now have to fight through school traffic at Rt. 30/Schoolhouse.Read More People from southwest New Lenox will have to either venture up Cedar, which is painfully slow... or take Spencer from Laraway, in which they will have to cross Rt. 30 to go straight. Won't be an easy picnic.