This post is part of a series chronicling news coverage of rising gas prices in the United States. See more here.
Peoria, Illinois, reporter talks to people about the impact of high gas prices: “There's only so far you can walk”
Reporter Taylor Fleming talked to one woman who “told me she has had to cut down on her trips to visit her husband in his nursing home from weekly to once every two weeks”
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Citation
From a May 8, 2026, video posted to the website of WEEK Peoria 25
TYLER LOPEZ (ANCHOR): It wasn't that long ago, back in January, a price for a gallon of gas in Peoria, $2.85. Today, AAA says it's $4.90, matching the national average. Good Thursday evening. I'm Tyler Lopez.
JENISE REBHOLZ (ANCHOR): And I'm Jenise Rebholz. Thanks for joining us at 10. Taylor Fleming talked to people in Peoria to see how they're adjusting their lives, their budgets to manage these higher costs. Taylor.
TAYLOR FLEMING (REPORTER): Jenise, Tyler, according to GasBuddy, the average price of gas in Illinois recently rose 49 cents and diesel prices rose 70 cents in the last week.
People in the River City tell me they are dining out and driving less.
Bradley University student Jessica Peters relies on gas to get her education. She closely monitors prices and is often worried about them. She hopes they won't stay this high forever. This has led the Peoria Heights woman to think hard about what she's willing to drive for.
JESSICA PETERS: I just go to the store and buy food instead of going out to eat, having fun. I've walked places now around the Heights, which I suppose is supporting the local community, but at the same time, there's only so far you can walk.
FLEMING: A Peoria man tells me he's less willing to travel to nearby cities.
MARTY WOMBACHER: I mean, I don't go as far as I used to. Like, if I know something's far away, I'll kind of double-think it and think, well, maybe I can do the same thing here in town rather than go out to Spring Bay or Pekin or Bartonville.
FLEMING: Peoria resident Jakari Lockhart called prices inconvenient and thinks it's particularly unfair to minimum-wage workers. She blames politicians for rising charges.
JAKARI LOCKHART (GUEST): They're mainly just focused on the people who make more money and not very — and not really taking other people like common citizens and people who make minimum wage or don't make as much, they're not taking us into account. And they're just worried about getting more money, getting more money, more taxes, more tariffs.
FLEMING: Another woman who didn't want to talk on camera told me she has had to cut down on her trips to visit her husband in his nursing home from weekly to once every two weeks.
For drivers who are looking to save on fuel costs, having properly inflated tires, slowing down and driving the speed limit, and avoiding idling your car for more than 60 seconds can help you save gas, according to AAA.