The average price for gas in Ontario on Monday is 200.8 cents per liter, up from Sunday’s average of 199.3. The price is higher than last month’s average of 196.9 and last year’s average of 132.0 per litre, according to the Canadian Automobile Association.
Ontario drivers continue to see eye-watering prices at the pumps. Record-breaking gas prices in Canada have contributed to higher bills for consumer goods and food, and impacted the way people live their lives.
The jump in Canada’s inflation rate — which hit 7.7 per cent in May, the steepest increase in nearly 40 years — has hurt consumer confidence, analysts say.
Average gas prices in the GTA:
Toronto—201.1
Peel—200.0
York—200.1
Durham—198.5
Here’s how we compare to the rest of Canada:
The average gas price in Canada is 204.0 cents per liter.
Gas prices are the lowest in Alberta, at 188.7 per litre; they’re highest in British Columbia, at 215.7.
How we got here:
In January, gas prices started spiking across the country, and by February began shattering records.
As COVID-19 restrictions started to lift, people began moving around again, driving up demand back to pre-pandemic levels. The effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and a flurry of international sanctions on Russia put pressure on an already-strained gas supply and sent international crude prices into a tailspin.
Experts say low-income Canadians are hardest hit by high gas prices, as they are more likely to spend a sizable chunk of their income on transportation and less likely to afford electric vehicles.
Top places to fuel up in the GTA:
Here are the least expensive places to get gas across the GTA, according to fuel-affordability company GasBuddy:
- 188.6 at Pioneer, 12717 Woodbine Ave., Whitchurch-Stouffville
- 190.9 at Mi Fuel, 9400 Highway 27, Vaughan
- 192.6 at Pioneer, 1292 Dupont St., Toronto
- 194.9 at Pioneer, 3279 Kingston Rd., Toronto
- 194.9 at Overseas, 3220 Kingston Rd., Toronto
- 195.6 at Esso, 9332 Keele St., Vaughan
- 195.6 at Race Trac, 2580 St. Clair Ave. West, Toronto
- 195.9 at Husky, 259 Guelph St., Halton Hills
- 196.6 at Circle K, 230 Wanless Dr., Brampton
- 196.7 at Husky, 1700 Derry Rd. East, Mississauga
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 consumers’ driving habits can affect 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 kilometers per hour and 80 km/h;
- Traveling light and removing added weight such as hockey equipment in the trunk;
- Using apps that provide daily updates for gas prices in your local area, such as GasBuddy and Waze, which rely on crowdsourced information;
- Hitting the gas station earlier in the week, as prices tend to rise on Thursdays and into the weekend, some experts say;
- Using your vehicle less; trying to carpool more often; using public transit; and riding your bike or walking.
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