File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / ElenathewiseFile photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / Elenathewise
Windsor

Fill up now before gas prices rise Saturday

The average price at the gas pumps is about to hit another all-time this weekend, said Gas Price Wizard Dan McTeague.

His advice to drivers, fill up on Friday.

McTeague, who is also the president of Canadians for Affordable Energy, has been predicting gas prices for the past three decades, said Ontario and Quebec could see prices jump by another 10 cents a litre on Saturday.

As of Friday morning, prices in Windsor ranged from 188.6 cents a litre at the Canadian Tire on Tecumseh Road East to 197.9 at the Shell station just down the street.

Those who wait can expect to pay in the range of 202.9 cents a litre.

Prices across some cities and towns across Southwestern Ontario are already pushing the $2 mark.

(BlackburnNews.com) (BlackburnNews.com file photo)

In Sarnia, drivers will pay 199.9 cents a litre at the Shell on Christina Street. The lowest price in that city is at the 40 Fuel on William Drive, 185.9 cents a litre.

Chatham drivers are filling up for 198.3 at Pioneer on Richmond Street at the low end to 198.9 cents a litre at UPI Energy.

London's fuel prices range from 186.6 at Canco on Kilally Road to 191.9 at the Shell on Wellington Road South.

They're high in Wingham too. At the XTR on London Road, it's 194.9 and 198.9 at Esso on Josephine Street.

Climbing steadily over the past few months because of higher global prices and the war in Ukraine, Natural Resources Canada said they peaked on Tuesday at an average of 197.4 cents a litre across the country.

One would think it would be enough to discourage Canadians from travelling this summer, but not so said a new survey by Ipsos.

Woman driving car. (Photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / fizkes). Woman driving car. (Photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / fizkes).

Toyota Canada Summer Road Trip Survey found nine out of ten Canadians plan to reinstate activities abandoned during the pandemic. That includes travel.

"There's much more buzz in the air this year," said Toyota Canada Corporate Vice President Stephen Beatty. "People are excited to take road trips to reconnect with their wider circle of family and friends and to once again enjoy larger-scale summer events like concerts, festivals and sporting events."

While rising gas prices are a consideration for most families, it is not a deterrent. One in five are looking for other ways to save on gas, including properly servicing their vehicle. Another 27 per cent said they're not concerned about gas prices.

The survey also found three-quarters of Canadians are eager to leave town, another 43 per cent plan to visit outside their province, and a quarter will cross the border. One-third expect their trip to take more than seven hours.

Toyota Canada commissioned the poll. A sample of 2,000 Canadians was interviewed online between March 22 and March 23, 2022. It is considered accurate to within +/- 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

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