What's the deal with gas prices...

[ScatteredFrog]

...on the South Side?? Whenever I drive to Midway, or on 7/4 when they closed north-bound Lake Shore Drive and I had to take Ashland, or when I've visited schools in say Lawndale and Englewood, I've noticed that gas prices down there are a LOT more expensive than on the North Side.

I mean, it's bad enough that on the South Side they have to deal with a lot of relatively poor neighborhoods, the White Sox, and a severe lack of decent public transportation, but high gas prices on top of that???

What gives??? Why is it less expensive on the North Side??

[C K Dexter Haven]

My feeling: things have always been more expensive in poorer neighborhoods around Chicago, anyhow. Not just gas, but groceries &c. My guess: the poorer neighborhoods have a higher crime rate, which means that retailers have more overheard -- for more security than is needed in more well-to-do nabes, for higher insurance costs, and to cover losses from robberies.