BLOOMINGTON - On his way to get a haircut Wednesday morning, Joe Van Valey noticed the price for a gallon of gasoline was $3.13.

When he left an hour later, the price had increased to $3.39.

The Bloomington man learned a lesson.

"As soon as you see the sign, stop and fill up, or it will go up," Van Valey said.

Fortunately for him, however, he saw a $3.13 price at another gas station. He didn't make the same mistake twice.

"I thought I better get my car up here and fill it up," Van Valey said as he pumped gas at Thornton Oil Corp., 908 N. Main St.

The hunt for the cheapest gas became more important late Tuesday and early Wednesday as prices at some stations tied the community's record of $3.469 for regular unleaded, a price not seen since last May.

Diesel breaks Twin City record

Meanwhile, the price for a gallon of diesel broke a record when it increased to an average of $3.915 in Bloomington-Normal on Wednesday, according to AAA-Chicago Motor Club, which tracks gas prices.

Finding the best deal

The story ended as well as it could for Van Valey and many other Twin City drivers who flooded a handful of Twin City gas stations where prices remained lower. Drivers figured higher prices at many area stations meant all prices soon would rise.

That's why Laura Berglund took a break from work.

The Bloomington woman heard gas prices were jumping around town but Thornton hadn't increased yet. Since her gauge was almost on empty, she jumped in her car in hopes of saving some money.

"I'm pretty sure they will go up," Berglund said.

Thornton's price also caught Christina Rubio's eye. She commutes from Rock Island to her Bloomington job during the week, so catching the lowest price is really important.

"I don't even care if I'm a few minutes late to work because I want to get my tank filled up," Rubio said.

By later in the afternoon, Thornton's gas price for unleaded stood at $3.38 a gallon.

A similar situation played out at a Shell station at the corner of Raab Road and Main Street in Normal, where gasoline started the day at $3.16.

Cars filled the station's lot because prices at nearby stations had jumped about 30 cents overnight, said manager Jim Moreland. The Shell station sold out of gas in about three hours, he said. Once the lot emptied, the price increased to $3.46.

"Everyone in town's gone up," Moreland said.

Up, up and up

Gas prices also hit a national record Wednesday. The average price for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline cost 3.246, according to AAA.

Prices jumped in reaction to high crude oil prices and the weak American dollar, said Nicole Niemi, AAA spokeswoman. The price for a barrel of crude ended the day at a new high of $109.92, after peaking earlier at more than $110.

"The foreign markets are buying with foreign currency and buying more with their money," agreed Bill Fleischli, executive vice president of Illinois Petroleum Marketers Association in Springfield. "Until we get that under control, I think that's the driving force."

A worldwide slowdown in gas consumption is needed to lower crude oil prices, Fleischli said.

If prices continue to climb at a record pace, that slowdown might happen. While the majority of the country has accepted gas at more than $3 a gallon, $4 a gallon - at least in Bloomington-Normal this summer - would be too much, Moreland said.

Twin City drivers agree.

"When it gets to $4, I think I'll quit driving," Van Valey said.