November 10, 2024

Need to fuel up before Canada Day? Gas prices likely to increase after mid-week lull, says expert

Canada Day #CanadaDay

The average price for gas in Ontario on Tuesday is 201.3 cents per litre, up from Monday’s average of 200.8, last month’s average of 197.5, and last year’s average of 131.7 cents per litre, according to the CAA.

Ontario drivers continue to see eye-watering prices at the pumps as record-breaking gas prices in Canada have led to an increase in consumer goods and food prices, and impacted the way people live their lives.

High prices compounded with a jump in Canada’s inflation rate, which hit 7.7 per cent in May, the steepest increase in nearly 40 years, have hurt consumer sentiment, say analysts.

Average gas prices in GTA

Here’s how we compare to the rest of Canada

The average gas price in Canada is 201.6 per litre.

Gas prices are the lowest in Alberta where prices are 188.6 cents per litre. Gas prices are the highest in British Columbia at 215.4 cents per litre.

How we got here

In January, gas prices started spiking across the country, and by February began shattering records as prices at the pumps soared.

At the same that COVID-19 restrictions started to lift and people began moving around again, driving up demand for gas to pre-pandemic levels, an escalating situation in Ukraine and a flurry of international sanctions on Russia put pressure on an already strained supply and sent international crude prices into a tailspin.

Experts say the hardest hit by high gas prices are low-income Canadians who are more likely to spend a sizable chunk of their income on transportation and are less likely to afford electric vehicles in order to offset rising costs.

Top places to fuel up in the GTA

  • 192.9 at Costco, 150 Kingston Road East, Ajax
  • 193.6 at Pioneer and On the Run, 1292 Dupont Street, Toronto
  • 195.2 at Circle K, 230 Wanless Drive, Brampton
  • 195.3 at Petro-Canada, 7092 Yonge Street, Vaughan
  • 195.7 at Husky, 259 Guelph Street, Halton Hills
  • 195.9 at Shell, 1047 Simcoe Street South, Oshawa
  • 196.6 at Esso, 720 Taunton Road East, Whitby
  • 197.1 at Petro-Canada, 509 Dundas Street West, Whitby
  • 197.5 at XTR, 35 Old Kennedy Road, Markham
  • 197.6 at Esso, 12891 Yonge Street, Richmond Hill
  • Long-term outlook

    Gas prices look to hold steady until Wednesday, said Dan McTeague, gas expert and president of Canadians for Affordable Energy. He added rising oil prices could see the cost of gasoline rise later in the week.

    “This is an example of where, on the market, gasoline is its own boss,” McTeague said.

    “But there’s upward pressure on oil, which could see gasoline move up a little bit as well.”

    Last week, McTeague said weather along the United States Gulf Coast this summer — which meteorologists are predicting will be the seventh record-shattering Atlantic hurricane season in a row — could temporarily shut down oil refineries, causing supply-chain issues and edge prices even higher.

    Tips for saving money on gas

    Experts say consumer driving habits can impact how much money they spend on gas. Some simple tips to save money on gas include:

  • Driving at a steady speed and avoiding abrupt movements, as most vehicles are most fuel-efficient when they’re running between 50 and 80 kilometres per hour
  • Travelling light and removing heavy, added weight to the vehicle like hockey equipment in the trunk could help fuel consumption
  • Using apps that provide daily updates for gas prices in your local area, like GasBuddy and Waze, which rely on crowdsourced information
  • Hitting the gas station earlier in the week, as some experts say prices tend to rise on Thursdays and into the weekend
  • And the obvious one: use your vehicle less, try to carpool more often, use public transit, ride your bike or walk
  • With files from Ivy Mak

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