By Neil Doyle

The national gas price average held steady on the week at $2.58, but that could change depending on the movement of crude oil prices due to geopolitical concerns.

Following airstrikes in Baghdad last Friday, crude oil prices increased, causing market speculation about what could happen to gas prices in the near-term, according to the AAA Weekly Fuel Gauge.

Monday’s national average is the same price as last Monday and last month, but 34-cents more expensive than the beginning of 2019.

Gas prices Monday in Bloomington-Normal are $2.54, up from $1.92 this time last year. Other prices around central Illinois include $2.42 in Champaign, $2.60 in Peoria, and in Springfield gas is $2.63.