Prowling the Pumps – July 29, 2008

On the case, lurking at service stations across the country to find the lowest and highest gasoline prices in Canada.

Average across Canada

The average price of gasoline in Canada rose by 0.5¢ per litre. The end of the slide? Probably not. A technical correction? Maybe. A significant event. Definitely not. The cost of our hypothetical 80-litre gas tank only rose 40¢ over the past week. And even that may be a blip.

Least Expensive Gasoline in Canada (per litre)

Again, Ontario places four cities in the low-cost five versus Alberta with one. With the summer driving season now in full swing, Canada’s most populous province benefits from the large quantities of gasoline sold compared to other Canadian markets.

Most Expensive Gasoline in Canada (per litre)

For the second week in a row, Quebec has been shut out of the pricey five. Probably no crying there. British Columbia places two cities in the pricey five as it did last week. The B.C. carbon tax of 2.4¢ per litre initiated July 1, 2008 is not the culprit here. Even without the tax, Victoria and Fort St. John would still among the five most expensive Canadian cities in which to buy gasoline.

Tuesday, oil was trading as low as $118.60 US per barrel, closing at $119.17. That’s a $28.67 US per barrel slide since crude trading peaked at $147.27 on July 11. Slowing economies have reduced demand for petroleum products and consumers are opting for less expensive means of travel – public transit, more fuel-efficient personal vehicles and car co-ops. One analyst summed it up by saying that the market was focusing more on supply and demand and less on geopolitical and weather-induced factors. What a concept!
We’ll see what happens next week.

Prowling the Pumps – June 17, 2008

On the case, lurking at service stations across the country to find the lowest and highest gasoline prices in Canada.

Average across Canada

This week was marked by a nine-tenths of a cent per litre drop in the average gasoline price, compared to a nearly six cent per litre rise last week. Hardly seems fair.

Our hypothetical 80-litre fuel tank was 72 cents cheaper to fill this week than last. But we’re paying, on average, 27.1 per cent more than this time last year, meaning our hypothetical 80-litre fuel tank cost about $23.12 more to fill in 2008.

Least Expensive Gasoline in Canada (per litre)

There’s not much change in our Alberta versus Ontario battle for the least expensive gasoline in Canada. In fact the biggest change is the 14.7 cent increase in the lowest gasoline price since we began prowling eight weeks ago.

Most Expensive Gasoline in Canada (per litre)

For the sixth consecutive week, Labrador City has the most expensive gas prices in Canada, and for the second week in a row, the only city in our survey to break the $1.50 mark.

Since we began prowling, the most expensive gasoline in Canada has risen nine per cent to $1.505 from $1.382 on April 22.

Oil markets this week attained record highs. How long before gasoline prices reflect that?

Prowling the Pumps – July 15, 2008

On the case, lurking at service stations across the country to find the lowest and highest gasoline prices in Canada.

Average across Canada

Not much change since our last report. Money saved by fuelling up our hypothetical 80-litre gas tank last week would buy you about one eighth of a litre this week.

Least Expensive Gasoline in Canada (per litre)

Once again, it’s Kingston Ontario against Alberta for the top spot in the low-cost five. Kingston is the only city in Canada with a average gas price of less than $1.30. And it leads the pack by 3.7¢, a significant amount seeing as the Alberta four are within a 1.7¢ range.

Most Expensive Gasoline in Canada (per litre)

Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest to join the pricey five, replacing perennial front runners Gaspé and Rimouski, Quebec. The spread between the least and most expensive cities is a whopping 27 ¢. The difference is split almost half and half by taxes (13.6 ¢) and the actual cost of gasoline (13.4 ¢)

Pundits are hinting that the meteoric rise in oil prices may be abating. Oil prices dropped $10 US per barrel today due to forecast slow economic growth world wide and the potential for global financial challenges stemming from the US housing and mortgage industry crisis.

And this may be the real thing folks. Up to now, any rumour of any kind, good or bad, including OPEC agreeing to pump more oil, has caused a temporary price spike.

We’ll see what happens later this week.

Gas prices too high? Try a fire sale

Whether they’re gas prices or with gas pedals, sometimes you have to put your foot down.

Some protest, others just complain, but the message in every cry against rising gas prices is clear: paying more sucks.

If there’s an award for most impassioned plea, though, it will certainly be awarded in Germany. In a country where gas recently topped $2.50 (1.55€) a litre, a man drove his BMW onto the grounds of the Frankfurt convention centre and set his car on fire.

Though the vehicle he destroyed was his own, the man might be charged under environmental protection laws, adding an odd, if equally timely caution on the way we use our fuel.

Who knows? If carbon taxes continue to crop up around the world, it might not be long before you can’t even afford to turn your BMW into a smoking hulk.

Prowling the Pumps – June 4, 2008

On the case, lurking at service stations across the country to find the lowest and highest gasoline prices in Canada.

Average across Canada

Prices are pretty much the same as last week, only a $0.005 cent drop, meaning our hypothetical 80-litre gas tank cost 40¢ less to fill up this week. However, it’s a 21 percent increase over what we were paying last yea, $18.08 more for our 80-litre fill-up.

Least Expensive Gasoline in Canada (per litre)

After six weeks as the least expensive place in Canada to buy gasoline, Kingston is supplanted by Windsor, which hasn’t made an appearance in the low-cost five since May 6. So it’s Ontario versus Alberta and Ontario’s cheap gas wins over Alberta’s low taxes.

Most Expensive Gasoline in Canada (per litre)

No surprises here. Interesting to note that, since we started prowling the pumps seven weeks ago, the price of gasoline in Labrador City has risen seven percent, for an annualized rate of inflation of 52%. The question is, will the residents of Labrador City be paying $2.06 per litre next April?

As gasoline prices continue to rise, it would appear that consumers are tired of the high cost of fueling SUVs and huge pickup trucks – sales of these vehicles plummeted as much as 69 per cent last month as drivers move to smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles. Consequently, the Big Three North American auto makers are closing down their truck and SUV plants.

Consequently, the Canadian city hit hardest by high gasoline prices is probably Oshawa, Ontario. It’s not a member of the costly five; in fact gas prices in southern Ontario average around $1.29, which is well on the low side for the country. But with it’s truck plant closing, Oshawa will lose more than 2,500 jobs.

Prowling the Pumps – May 27, 2008

On the case, lurking at service stations across the country to find the lowest and highest gasoline prices in Canada.

Average across Canada

Prices are on the rise again, up 4.2 cents per litre from last week. So, our hypothetical 80-litre gas tank cost $3.36 more to fill up this week.

Least Expensive Gasoline in Canada (per litre)

Kingston is the least expensive place In Canada to buy gasoline for the sixth week in a row. I think it’s time somebody slapped a huge tax on Kingston gas so some other city can enjoy the cheapest gas in the country. And Winnipeg came out of nowhere to join the low-cost five for the first time since we began prowling the pumps. If it wasn’t for taxes and Kingston, Winnipeg would have bragging rights.

Most Expensive Gasoline in Canada (per litre)

Taxes and Kingston – that’s all that keeps Gander from having the least expensive gasoline in Canada. But because of those two factors, it has the fourth highest gas prices. Really, of all the members of the pricey five, only Yellowknife has expensive gas. But unlike its compatriots, it also has low taxes.

Back to our proverbial 80-litre gas tank. If you live in Labrador City, but bought your gas in Kingston, you would have saved $19.12 this week.

This week’s excuse for high crude oil prices: Trouble in Nigeria

Prowling the Pumps – May 20, 2008

On the case, lurking at service stations across the country to find the lowest and highest gasoline prices in Canada.

Average across Canada

So…my short term prediction was wrong. Prices dropped $0.004 per litre from last week. Not a huge deal. It means that if you waited until this week to fill up and you have an 80-litre gas tank, you saved a whopping 32 cents.

Least Expensive Gasoline in Canada (per litre)

For the fifth week in a row, Kingston tops our list. But…as with last week, the next four in the low-cost five are all from Alberta. It’s still a battle of high throughput versus low taxes and low taxes won out again.

Most Expensive Gasoline in Canada (per litre)

Looks like Quebec is making real inroads into the pricey five, but Labrador City and Yellowknife still maintain their stranglehold on the two most expensive cities in which to fill up. Again it’s all a matter of taxes. Without taxes, Trois-Rivières would crack the low-cost five and Labrador City would only be three-tenths of a cent out.

Back to my predictions. With crude oil trading above $130.00US per barrel, the price of gasoline has no where to go but up. A $0.004 drop is not a precursor to declining prices.

And speaking of predictions, American oil billionaire T. Boone Pickens, Jr. predicted $150 US per barrel oil before the end of the summer. Boone is noted for his accuracy in forecasting oil prices. He reportedly predicted last year that oil would reach $80.00 US per barrel before he reached 80 years of age. Well, tomorrow, May 22 is Boone’s 80th.

Prowling the Pumps – May 13, 2008

On the case, lurking at service stations across the country to find the lowest and highest gasoline prices in Canada.

Average across Canada

A modest increase over last week, but it could be the beginning of a long, slow rise!
Least Expensive Gasoline in Canada (per litre)

Kingston tops our list for the fourth week in a row, but…the next four in the low-cost five are all from Alberta – a stunning turn of events. Makes sense though. While southern Ontario may have the advantage in terms of population, Alberta has the edge when it comes to taxes – the lowest in the country.

Most Expensive Gasoline in Canada (per litre)

The pricey five welcome Montreal for the first time. Otherwise a just a bit of jockeying for position. Interesting to note that only in Yellowknife and Whitehorse are the actual gasoline prices much higher than the average. In the other three cities, actual prices are comparable to those in the low cost club, in fact Gander and Montreal are less expensive than Lethbridge, Lloydminster and Calgary. The killer is taxes that are almost 20 cents per litre higher. One more reason to join the migration to Wild Rose Country.

If it’s any consolation, the price of oil this week hit $125.80 US per barrel, an increase of 96.4 per cent over the $64.07 US per barrel price this time last year. Gasoline prices have only risen 13.5 per cent …so far.

Prowling the Pumps – May 6, 2008

On the case, lurking at service stations across the country to find the lowest and highest gasoline prices in Canada.

Average across Canada

No change from last week, but with oil prices climbing (soaring? skyrocketing?) to more than $120 per barrel, big changes in gas prices are on the horizon.

Least Expensive Gasoline in Canada (per litre)

The five cities boasting the least expensive gas in Canada are all in Ontario — seems to be THE province to live in for cheap gas! Kingston tops our list for the third week in a row, and for the first time, Edmonton is out of the running. And to make matters worse for the rest of us, prices actually declined slightly in St. Catharines, Windsor and Peterborough.

It’s all a matter of throughput efficiencies. Gas prices will be lower where the most gas is sold, and southern Ontario has a sizeable population (+5.1 million) as well as proximity to refineries. And with so much gas being sold, local price wars could also benefit the consumer.

Most Expensive Gasoline in Canada (per litre)

Once again, Yellowknife and Labrador City tied for the most expensive gas in the country, and Whitehorse claimed third spot despite prices remaining unchanged from last week in all three cities. Fort St. John and Gander are new to the pricey five.

Again, high taxes hurt Labrador City and Gander. Interesting to note Whitehorse has the lowest taxes in Canada. But small populations and isolation don’t make for cheap gas.

One analyst is predicting $200 per barrel oil within the next two years; but seeing as prices have almost doubled since this time last year, I’m thinking two years is optimistic. Time to take transit, or move to Kingston!

Spring has sprung, the gas is riz

According to a Canada Press story carried by CTV, two separate and unrelated aspects of gasoline pricing are converging to give us near-record gasoline prices. The price of oil is at record highs AND refiners are scaling back on production to accommodate annual refinery maintenance. In the article, experts pontificate on why, as the summer driving season approaches, we’ll be paying more at the pumps. The good news is that because of the strong Canadian dollar, it could be worse. On that bright note…

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