In the past, on trips to downstate/central Illinois, I routinely see a substantial price drop. The Chicago suburbs, especially the ones further north, tend to be more expensive. However, this week, making the same trip, I was shocked. Prices are more even around the state than I've ever seen them! The cheapest gas I've seen in the suburbs was $2.11 ($2.09 at a discount from Sam's Club for members only). I expected the southern, rural Illinois areas to be well below $2. To my surprise, gas down south was $2.12-2.18! -no different than the cheapest gas up here. Sure, there are a couple of places in the burbs where it hits as high as $2.29, but still, I've never seen the lowest prices in the south when they didn't beat the lowest prices up here before.