The Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette ran several news stories on this in 2000, when prices first spiked.

See:

Gas prices set based on competition, retailers say
http://www.newsgazette.com/story.cfm?Number=8480

Local gas prices fall following suspension of state gas tax
http://www.news-gazette.com/story.cfm?Number=7453

Gasoline prices soar for summer season
http://www.news-gazette.com/story.cfm?Number=7230

The Energy Information Administration has current and historical statistics on gas prices by region and for certain large metropolitan areas like Chicago. See:

Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/gdu/gasdiesel.asp
Has some nice graphs illustrating national price changes over the last two years.

Retail Gasoline Historical Prices
http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/wrgp/mogas_history.html

Weekly U.S. Retail Gasoline Prices
http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/wrgp/mogas_home_page.html

For information on gas prices and how they're set, see:

A Primer on Gasoline Prices
http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/analysis_publications/primer_on_gasoline_prices/html/petbro.html

How Gas Prices Work
http://www.howstuffworks.com/gas-price.htm

Gasoline Prices (Fueleconomy.gov)
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/gasprices/index.shtml

Gas Prices: How Are They Really Set?
http://www.senate.gov/~gov_affairs/042902gasreport.htm
Report from the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations regarding the production, marketing, and pricing of gasoline in the United States.

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