Explainer: Why Gas Prices Are Creeping Up Across Chicago

Samir Shabo fills up his tank at a Mobil gas station in Chicago, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. Gasoline prices are climbing as rising economic growth boosts oil prices and temporary refinery outages crimp gasoline supplies on the East and West Coasts. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Samir Shabo fills up his tank at a Mobil gas station in Chicago, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Samir Shabo fills up his tank at a Mobil gas station in Chicago, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. Gasoline prices are climbing as rising economic growth boosts oil prices and temporary refinery outages crimp gasoline supplies on the East and West Coasts. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Samir Shabo fills up his tank at a Mobil gas station in Chicago, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Explainer: Why Gas Prices Are Creeping Up Across Chicago

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Gas prices are rising as a result of the recent cold snap, according to reports out of Northwest Indiana.

The Chicago metro area as a whole is seeing gas prices 15 to 30 cents higher year over year. That’s the result of a few factors, including higher oil prices, problems last month at refineries in Joliet and Robbinsville, and the impact of the cold weather. 

Morning Shift talks to Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.com, about all the factors that drive gas prices up and down in the Chicago area and what we can expect in the near future. We also take questions and comments from listeners live on the air.