Try as I may to understand it, I’m still perplexed as to why gas prices in some western Cook County towns are lower than they are in eastern DuPage County towns. This dilemma has been the sublect of some of my previous blog postings, and the mystery goes on.
The lowest gas prices at premium stations (BP, Mobile and Shell) that I’ve seen lately on my way to work are in Countryside. This morning, a Shell station was selling regular unleaded at $3.29.9 per gallon, and a Mobile was selling regular unleaded at $3.28.9 per gallon. Incredible, particularly for a town in Cook County (which has a sales tax of 9.00 percent).
Compare that to premium stations in Hinsdale, just over the border in DuPage County (which has a sales tax of 7.25 percent). Wait a minute, I can’t compare these prices with premium stations in Hinsdale. Neither the Shell nor BP at Ogden Avenue and York Road display their prices on signs. I can’t figure that one out.
So our next point of comparison is Westmont. One Mobile station was selling gas at $3,39.9 per gallon, and a Shell was selling regular unleaded at $3.49.9.
In Downers Grove, a BP was selling regular unleaded at $3.39.9 per gallon. Then in Lombard, a Mobile also was selling regular unleaded at $3.39.9 per gallon.
Most of the prices in DuPage County towns are respectable, but they’re curious given the sales tax rates charged in these municipalities versus what’s charged in Cook County towns.
The combined sales tax rate in Downers Grove is 8.00 percent; in Lombard, it’s 8.25 percent; and in Westmont it’s 7.25 percent. In Countryside, the combined sales tax rate is 9.25 percent.
Of the (albeit few) stations that I’ve compared, here is the range: Countysidde, with the highest combineed sales tax rate at 9.25 percent, has the lowest gas price at $3.28.9 per gallon. Westmont, with the lowest combined sales tax rate at 7.25 percent, has the highest gas price at $3.49.9 per gallon.
What gives, Westmont? That $3.49.9 per gallon is so pre-federal government bailout. The economy is on the mend, and the price of oil has sharply declined in the past couple of weeks.
Pick up a newspaper once in awhile, would you?
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Stumble It!
