Gas prices near national average locally ahead of holiday

CHICAGO – Local and statewide gas prices are near or just below the national average according to the American Automobile Association. However, motorists are paying around 40 cents less per gallon than they did last December. In LaSalle County, gas prices average at $2.19 per gallon. Putnam County is just under LaSalle’s average at $2.17. Bureau County checks in at $2.22 per gallon, the same as the National Average. At this time last year, the gas price average statewide was $2.59 per gallon.