BLOOMINGTON - Dana Rainwater needed gas over the lunch hour Tuesday, but waited because she was late for an appointment. | Check best local gas prices | Contest: Win $100 in free gas

When the Bloomington woman finally pulled into the Freedom station on Towanda Avenue, gas had jumped nearly 30 cents, to about $3.80 a gallon, a Twin City record.

"Now I'm stuck with the higher price," said the mother of three.

Because of the steep increase, reflected throughout Bloomington-Normal Tuesday afternoon, Rainwater spent only about $20 for a partial fill-up.

And, like other Twin City customers visiting gas stations, Rainwater was frustrated. "I just throw my arms up," she said.

Nicole Niemi, spokeswoman for AAA, Chicago, said she couldn't offer much of an explanation for the spike, except to suggest that oil futures that hit a new record of nearly $123 a barrel Tuesday might have something to do with it.

However, Niemi said she had not received similar reports of price spikes elsewhere in Illinois and paid $3.67 in Aurora mid-day Tuesday.

Bloomington resident Bryan Fulton, meanwhile, believes gas will hit $4 a gallon by Memorial Day.

Fulton was only buying pop at Bloomington Circle K at Clinton Boulevard and Oakland Avenue. He beat the price increase by buying Monday when gas was $3.52 per gallon.

Still, it cost him $108 to fill up his van's tank.

"I suppose I'm happy, but it's pretty sad when $3.52 a gallon is a bargain," he said.

Bloomington resident Pat Volkman, who was at the same gas station as Fulton, spent $7.44 to gas up his motorcycle.

The price of gas, Volkman said, is ridiculous.

"Oil companies are making record profits," he said.

A price of $3.799 per gallon in Bloomington-Normal was typical in a spot check by The Pantagraph.

"We got a call to raise it about noon," said Kathy Bryant, assistant manager at the Circle K.

Bryant was getting an earful from customers.

"They cuss us, but if I had my way it would be $1.79 per gallon," Bryant said.