Gasoline prices averaged $3.664 a gallon in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area in November 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Jason Palmer noted that area gasoline prices were down 63.6 cents compared to last November when they averaged $4.300 per gallon. Chicago area households paid an average of 16.4 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity in November 2023, up from 13.3 cents per kWh in November 2022. The average cost of utility (piped) gas at 98.6 cents per therm in November was down from $1.565 per therm a year earlier. (Data in this release are not seasonally adjusted; accordingly, over-the-year-analysis is used throughout.)

The cost of a gallon of gasoline in the Chicago area at $3.664 in November 2023, compared to the national average of $3.623 a gallon. Last November, gasoline costs in Chicago were 34.2 cents higher than the national average. Over the past five Novembers, gasoline prices in the Chicago area have ranged from $4.300 to $2.176 per gallon. (See chart 1.)

  

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Chart 1. Average prices for gasoline, the United States and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI, 2019–23 (as of November)

Period	United States	Chicago
Nov 2019	$2.687	$2.676
Nov 2020	$2.159	$2.176
Nov 2021	$3.576	$3.697
Nov 2022	$3.958	$4.300
Nov 2023	$3.623	$3.664
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The 16.4 cents per kWh that Chicago households paid for electricity in November 2023 was comparable to the nationwide average cost of 16.8 cents per kWh. Last November, electricity costs in Chicago were 13.3 cents per kWh, 18.4 percent lower than the national average of 16.3 cents. Over the past five Novembers, Chicago area electricity prices have ranged from 16.4 cents to 13.3 cents per kWh. (See chart 2.)

  

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Chart 2. Average prices for electricity, the United States and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI, 2019–23 (as of November)

Period	United States	Chicago
Nov 2019	$0.133	$0.141
Nov 2020	$0.136	$0.141
Nov 2021	$0.142	$0.146
Nov 2022	$0.163	$0.133
Nov 2023	$0.168	$0.164
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Prices paid by Chicago area consumers for utility (piped) gas, commonly referred to as natural gas, were 98.6 cents per therm in November 2023, 45.6 cents less than the national average of $1.442 per therm. Last November, utility (piped) gas prices in Chicago were comparable to the nation. Over the past five Novembers, Chicago area utility (piped) gas prices have ranged from $1.565 to 76.4 cents per therm. (See chart 3.)

  

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Chart 3. Average prices for utility (piped) gas, the United States and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI, 2019–23 (as of November)

Period	United States	Chicago
Nov 2019	$1.058	$0.764
Nov 2020	$1.104	$0.808
Nov 2021	$1.401	$1.182
Nov 2022	$1.616	$1.565
Nov 2023	$1.442	$0.986
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area consists of Cook, De Kalb, Du Page, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties in Illinois; Jasper, Lake, Newton, and Porter Counties in Indiana; and Kenosha County in Wisconsin.

Historical average energy prices for the U.S. and select metropolitan areas are available at www.bls.gov/regions/midwest/data/averageenergyprices_selectedareas_table.htm.

The December 2023 Consumer Price Index is scheduled to be released on Thursday, January 11, 2024, at 7:30 a.m. (CT).

Average prices are estimated from Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for selected commodity series to support the research and analytic needs of CPI data users. Average prices for electricity, utility (piped) gas, and gasoline are published monthly for the U.S. city average, the 4 regions, 9 divisions, 2 population size classes, 8 region/size-class cross-classifications, and the 23 largest local index areas. For electricity, average prices per kilowatt-hour (kWh) are published. For utility (piped) gas, average prices per therm are published. For gasoline, the average price per gallon is published. Average prices for commonly available grades of gasoline are published as well as the average price across all grades.

All eligible prices are converted to a price per normalized quantity. These prices are then used to estimate a price for a defined fixed quantity. The average price per kilowatt-hour represents the total bill divided by the kilowatt-hour usage. The total bill is the sum of all items applicable to all consumers appearing on an electricity bill including, but not limited to, variable rates per kWh, fixed costs, taxes, surcharges, and credits. This calculation also applies to the average price per therm for utility (piped) gas.

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.