The average price of regular, unleaded gas in the Chicago area is edging close to $4 a gallon today. Nicole Niemi is a spokesperson for AAA.

NEIMI: Gas prices have set record numbers throughout the entire week and currently in Chicago the price of regular unleaded gasoline is $3.92. That's almost 60 cents higher than the same time last year.

Niemi says those prices aren't likely to drop any time soon, that's because of high crude oil prices and high demand for gasoline.  She says an additional price spike is expected when gas stations switch to the more expensive summer-blend gasoline. The Environmental Protection Agency requires them to do that by June 1.