Motorists in Quebec continue to suffer from the sharp rise in the cost of gasoline. Some must adapt their habits accordingly, at a time when prices do not seem to want to fall before the end of the summer, experts believe.
Posted at 9:00 p.m.
“We have to adjust our consumption and our movements. I canceled my Easter trip partly because of the cost of fuel,” The Press Abdelah Naimi, met at the Ultramar gas station at the corner of Saint-Hubert and Legendre streets, in the Ahuntsic district. “Now, for work, we take the metro rather than the car,” he adds.
The cost of gas at the pump hit $1.92 a liter on Wednesday at some gas stations across the province. This is an increase of nearly 7 cents per liter compared to the average recorded the day before in Montreal, according to data from the Régie de l’énergie du Québec.
“It’s a pity, the increase in the price of gasoline. It affects everyone’s wallet. Everything is made expensive: gas, food, rent. Yet our wages are not rising. It’s getting hard to live,” Tony dropped while refueling his vehicle.
A few meters further, Isabelle Conan-Cormier judged that “the price does not make sense”. “It’s excessive. I really need a car for work, but whenever I can I take public transport or a bike. »
High prices to be expected next summer
Experts fear that the situation will not improve anytime soon. “The situation in Russia is not settled and we expect demand to remain strong this summer, because people are on vacation and want to travel,” says Pierre-Olivier Pineau, holder of the Chair in Management of the energy at HEC Montreal.
The easing of restrictions related to COVID-19 could increase demand, he believes. “People will take advantage of it to move. Air flights will also resume. Demand remains strong, despite the difficult economic situation,” he says.
George Iny, director of the Association for the Protection of Motorists (APA), agrees. “Demand is always high during the months of June, July and August because of the holidays,” he says.
Specialists would not be surprised if the price exceeds the $2 per liter mark. “In Europe, they have prices at $3 per litre. We can quite imagine that we will reach the European level,” admits Mr. Pineau.
Inflation peaks
Russia’s attack on Ukraine has pushed up oil prices, partly responsible for inflation which hit 6.7%, its highest level in March in more than 30 years. In fact, gasoline prices rose 39.8% compared to the same month a year earlier.
“Oil prices peaked in March. The acceleration has eased off a bit since then, but fuel prices are still high,” said Fred Bergman, senior policy analyst at the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council.
For his part, the Premier of Quebec, François Legault, acknowledged on Wednesday that the portfolio of Quebecers was “very affected” by inflation, particularly in the gasoline sector.
With The Canadian Press