Illinois, You’re About To Pay More For Groceries And Gas

Summer is about to get a little more expensive in Illinois.

It's a popular time of the year for both traveling and for cookouts and in Illinois, both of those look like they're going to get more expensive starting as soon as next month.

WSIL reports that starting on July 1st, Illinois will reinstate a 1% grocery tax. This had been suspended to help residents deal with inflation and it's estimated that it saved taxpayers about $400 million.

Illinois Policy says that among the 10 most populated states, Illinois is the only one with a grocery tax. It doesn't help that food prices in general are going up. Illinois Policy says that from April 2022-April 2023, the consumer price index for groceries went up 7.1%, and it's expected to go up by another 4.5-8% this year. So not only are the groceries going to be taxed more, but they're going to be more expensive in general.

The Illinois Gas Tax

Road tripping this summer? It will also cost you more beginning in July. Illinois also paused a plan to raise gas taxes last year too but it also means gas prices will go up later this year.

The station reports that Illinois already has some of the highest gas taxes in the nation. After the gas tax increase (which is 3.1 cents per gallon, starting in July), Illinois will have the 4th highest gas taxes in the U.S.

Illinois Policy & WSIL reports that this additional gas tax increase brings Illinois motor fuel tax to 45.5 cents, which is about 26 cents higher than it was in 2019.