Cook County drivers are paying $4.52 per gallon for regular gasoline, the highest price in the Chicago metro area. That is 20 cents above the Illinois statewide average of $4.32, according to AAA data reported by Patch on Thursday, Sept. 3.

Park Ridge and Niles fall within Cook County, meaning local drivers filling up ahead of Labor Day weekend face the steepest prices in the region.

National prices are also at record levels. GasBuddy projected the national Labor Day average at $4.03 per gallon, 87 cents higher than 2025 and the highest Labor Day pump price on record in nominal terms. The previous record was $3.83 per gallon, set in 2012.

A year ago, Illinois motorists paid an average of $3.49 per gallon for regular gas at Labor Day, according to AAA data cited by Shaw Local. That is an 83-cent jump in 12 months.

Diesel has climbed even faster. Illinois diesel averaged $5.82 per gallon as of Sept. 4, up more than $2 from $3.76 a year ago. That surpassed the previous daily record of $5.819 set June 17, 2022, according to Shaw Local.

Two global conflicts are driving the surge, according to the Patch report. The war in Iran and the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz have squeezed crude oil shipments. Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries have also knocked millions of barrels of refining capacity offline, tightening gasoline, diesel and jet fuel supplies worldwide.

"This year has been less about typical supply and demand and more about uncertainty over how global tensions will affect the availability of crude oil and refined products," Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in a Sept. 1 press release.

Among Chicago-area collar counties, DuPage averaged $4.39 per gallon, Will $4.38, Kendall $4.36, Kane $4.34, McHenry $4.34 and Lake $4.32, all below Cook County's $4.52.

The Illinois Tollway expects more than 8.5 million vehicles on the road over the holiday weekend, with Friday projected as the busiest day at more than 2 million vehicles.

GasBuddy said prices are expected to moderate after Sept. 15, when most of the country switches to cheaper winter-blend gasoline.