Gas prices won't be record breaking, but they will be high this summer
The price of gas is heading upward and it's expected to remain high through the summer, thanks to a number of market forces.
Many drivers fuelling up in Calgary on Tuesday may have seen prices of up to $1.40 per litre for regular gas and, while that's off from the record highs from a year ago, it's still a tough cost for many people to manage.
According to Gas Buddy, the price per litre of regular gas was about $1.66 on March 28, 2022, but that jumped to nearly $1.85 in June 2022.
Industry analysts tell CTV News that part of the reason for this most recent increase is a routine change in what type of gas is supplied to North Americans from U.S. refineries.
Around now, companies shift from a 'winter fuel' mix to a summer type – a gas that typically costs about five cents more per litre.
However, there are other factors to consider, such as the U.S. banking crisis that caused prices to jump by 20 cents in one day.
The federal government is also set to increase its carbon tax on April 1, a move that will increase gas prices even further.
"The other shoe to drop – and there are two of them – will be on April Fools' Day (when) the federal carbon tax increases to 3.5 cents a litre," said Gaswizard.ca's Dan McTeague.
"So many stations, if nothing changes Wednesday, Thursday and Friday – if there's no change in the market, we're still going to get about three and a half to four cents increase – about $1.44 or $1.45 by Saturday."
The other policy will come into effect on July 1, where federal rules will require companies to produce a more eco-friendly product. Those higher costs will also be passed onto customers, McTeague says.
Other factors to consider are a weaker Canadian dollar, which usually increases the price of fuel even before drivers can use it.
(With files from Stephanie Thomas)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York from upstate prison
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old
A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.