Gas prices: Alberta hit with biggest increases this week
Gas prices averaged slightly higher across Canada this week, with Alberta cities like Lethbridge, Calgary, and Edmonton booking some of the most significant gains.
The average cost per litre of regular gasoline added 0.7 cents between Feb. 29 and March 7, rising to $1.578 per litre. Peterborough and North Bay, Ont. joined cities in Alberta with roughly eight-cent gains. Abbotsford and Kelowna, B.C. were among the few regions to see minor declines.
Stateside, gas prices have increased sharply due to ongoing refinery challenges, an expert warns.
"Some very stark increases are coming in western states, and we've seen gas prices rally by about US$0.25 per gallon, even as demand has been suppressed by inclement weather," Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis at OPIS, recently told Yahoo Finance.
Back in Canada, DesRosiers Automotive Consultants says light vehicle sales had "easily the strongest February of all time," booking a 24.4 per cent increase over February 2023.
“February 2024 sales tell us that some of the hurdles of recent years – and specifically the supply constraints of new vehicles – are now well and truly in the rear-view mirror,” managing partner Andrew King recently commented.
DesRosiers calls this February's sales figure "remarkable" in light of current economic pressure on consumers. March is typically the start of the spring selling season for automotive dealers in Canada. Analysts say sales this month will gauge "how long pent-up demand can remain as the dominant market dynamic, in the face of increased vehicle prices and high interest rates."
Follow Yahoo Finance Canada for more weekly gas price updates. Scroll below to find your nearest city.
(All figures in CAD cents)
Location | Feb. 29 | Mar. 7 | Price change |
Canada Average (V) | 157.1 | 157.8 | 0.7 |
WHITEHORSE | 169.9 | 169.9 | 0 |
VANCOUVER* | 190.1 | 191.1 | 1 |
VICTORIA | 184.9 | 184 | -0.9 |
PRINCE GEORGE | 158.6 | 164.1 | 5.5 |
KAMLOOPS | 166 | 167.5 | 1.5 |
KELOWNA | 167.7 | 165.1 | -2.6 |
FORT ST. JOHN | 158.7 | 164.2 | 5.5 |
ABBOTSFORD | 175.9 | 173.2 | -2.7 |
YELLOWKNIFE | 156.9 | 158.9 | 2 |
CALGARY* | 139.9 | 148.9 | 9 |
RED DEER | 137.9 | 145.4 | 7.7 |
EDMONTON | 137.7 | 146.7 | 9 |
LETHBRIDGE | 137.8 | 147.6 | 9.8 |
LLOYDMINSTER | 137.9 | 145.6 | 7.7 |
GRANDE PRAIRIE | 138.3 | 145.3 | 7 |
REGINA* | 147.3 | 149.8 | 2.5 |
SASKATOON | 149.9 | 149.8 | -0.1 |
PRINCE ALBERT | 147 | 149.9 | 2.9 |
MOOSE JAW | 149.9 | 149.9 | 0 |
WINNIPEG * | 133.9 | 133 | -0.9 |
BRANDON | 133.9 | 133.6 | -0.3 |
CITY OF TORONTO* | 149.9 | 148.6 | -1.3 |
BRAMPTON | 150.1 | 148.6 | -1.5 |
ETOBICOKE | 149.4 | 148.3 | -1.1 |
MISSISSAUGA | 148.9 | 147.5 | -1.4 |
NORTH YORK | 149.9 | 148.3 | -1.6 |
SCARBOROUGH | 149.8 | 148.5 | -1.3 |
VAUGHAN/MARKHAM | 150.1 | 148.8 | -1.3 |
OTTAWA | 149.7 | 148.6 | -1.1 |
KINGSTON | 145.9 | 144.9 | -1 |
PETERBOROUGH | 137.8 | 146.2 | 8.4 |
WINDSOR | 148.8 | 147.7 | -1.1 |
LONDON | 150.3 | 148.3 | -2 |
SUDBURY | 155.3 | 158 | 2.7 |
SAULT STE MARIE | 149.6 | 149.6 | 0 |
THUNDER BAY | 158 | 162.9 | 4.9 |
NORTH BAY | 149.6 | 157.7 | 8.1 |
TIMMINS | 157.7 | 156.5 | -1.2 |
HAMILTON | 147.2 | 147.3 | 0.1 |
ST. CATHARINES | 147.1 | 147.1 | 0 |
BARRIE | 149.2 | 147.8 | -1.4 |
BRANTFORD | 146 | 145 | -1 |
GUELPH | 150.4 | 148.2 | -2.2 |
KITCHENER | 149.6 | 148.1 | -1.5 |
OSHAWA | 150 | 148.6 | -1.4 |
SARNIA | 136.8 | 149.5 | 12.7 |
MONTRÉAL* | 165.9 | 164.9 | -1 |
QUÉBEC | 162 | 162.8 | 0.8 |
SHERBROOKE | 157 | 156.7 | -0.3 |
GASPÉ | 169.6 | 169.7 | 0.1 |
CHICOUTIMI | 146.5 | 150.6 | 4.1 |
RIMOUSKI | 163.4 | 163.4 | 0 |
TROIS RIVIÈRES | 158.9 | 161.7 | 2.8 |
DRUMMONDVILLE | 157.9 | 157.9 | 0 |
VAL D'OR | 163.6 | 163.6 | 0 |
GATINEAU | 147.5 | 146.8 | -0.7 |
SAINT JOHN* | 161.5 | 161 | -0.5 |
FREDERICTON | 161.9 | 161.4 | -0.5 |
MONCTON | 162.1 | 161.8 | -0.3 |
BATHURST | 161.7 | 161.7 | 0 |
EDMUNDSTON | 161.4 | 160.8 | -0.6 |
MIRAMICHI | 163.2 | 162.9 | -0.3 |
CAMPBELLTON | 163.3 | 162.9 | -0.4 |
SUSSEX | 161.4 | 160.7 | -0.7 |
WOODSTOCK | 163.2 | 162.8 | -0.4 |
HALIFAX* | 161.2 | 160.6 | -0.6 |
SYDNEY | 163.2 | 162.5 | -0.7 |
YARMOUTH | 162.3 | 161.5 | -0.8 |
TRURO | 162.4 | 161.7 | -0.7 |
KENTVILLE | 161.8 | 161.1 | -0.7 |
NEW GLASGOW | 162.4 | 161.7 | -0.7 |
CHARLOTTETOWN* | 163.4 | 161.1 | -2.3 |
ST JOHNS* | 171.7 | 172.4 | 0.7 |
GANDER | 173.9 | 174.7 | 0.8 |
LABRADOR CITY | 178.3 | 179 | 0.7 |
CORNER BROOK | 172.4 | 173.1 | 0.7 |
GRAND FALLS | 174.2 | 174.9 | 0.7 |
SOURCE: KALIBRATE • All figures in CAD cents
(*) Denotes markets used in Volume Weighted Canada Average
Jeff Lagerquist is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow him on Twitter @jefflagerquist.
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