For Release: Friday, June 25, 2021
21-1012-CHI
MIDWEST INFORMATION OFFICE: Chicago, Ill.
Technical information:
(312) 353-1880 BLSInfoChicago@bls.gov www.bls.gov/regions/midwest
Media contact:
(312) 353-1138
Average Energy Prices, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin — May 2021
Gasoline prices averaged $3.223 per gallon in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area in May 2021, the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Jason Palmer noted that area gasoline
prices were up $1.057 compared to May 2020, when they averaged $2.166 per gallon. Chicago area
households paid an average of 14.6 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity in May 2021, lower than the
15.0 cents paid in May 2020. In May, the average cost of utility (piped) gas was $1.068 per therm, more than
its average price of 75.3 cents per therm a year earlier. (Data in this release are not seasonally adjusted;
accordingly, over-the-year-analysis is used throughout.)
The $3.223 per gallon Chicago households paid for gasoline in May 2021 was 18.2 cents higher than the
nationwide average of $3.041. In the previous four years in May (2017-2020), Chicago area gasoline prices
were higher than the national average, ranging from 9.0 cents to 22.0 cents more. (See chart 1.)
The 14.6 cents per kWh that Chicago households paid for electricity in May 2021 was higher than the national
average cost of 14.0 cents per kWh. In Chicago, average electricity costs were higher than the national average
in the previous four years (2017-2020) in May, ranging from 9.5 percent to 18.4 percent more. (See chart 2.)
2
Prices paid by Chicago area households for utility (piped) gas, commonly referred to as natural gas, were
$1.068 per therm in May 2021, 11.1 percent less than the national average of $1.201 per therm. In each of the
previous four years (2017-2020) in May, Chicago area utility (piped) gas costs were lower than the national
average, ranging from 15.5 percent to 27.4 percent less. (See chart 3.)
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI, cor