Rising gas prices creating trickle down effect on consumer goods
Gas prices are up across the region and, according to industry experts, they might not be dropping any time soon.
The increase at the pumps is also causing the price tag on consumer goods to jump.
"We are in the first inning of an energy crunch," says Dan McTeague, president of Canadians for Affordable Energy.
In Halifax's zone 1, regular self-serve is up 2.3 cents a litre, now sitting at a $1.439.
On Prince Edward Island, regular self-serve is $1.457. Diesel increased almost three cents to a little more than $1.50.
New Brunswickers are now paying $1.477 a litre, a jump of 2.7 cents.
Diesel increased to $1.55 a litre, up nearly 3 cents.
McTeague says part of the reason is the move toward renewable energy.
“Make no mistake, the green transition has a price and the price is not quite understood, nor is it being paid for, which for me, means that we’re moving to a $1.50 a litre in Nova Scotia,” says McTeague.
Home heating fuel and diesel are up too, making things difficult for the trucking industry.
For trucking companies, fuel is their second-largest cost behind labour.
Now, if the driver is an owner-operator, they have to front the cost of filling their rig.
“You can put $800 of fuel in your truck, you won’t get paid for that load for a month or more," says Jean-Marc Picard, president of the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association. "Therefore you have to bear that cost upfront, which is a huge burden for some of those owner-operators."
A jump in gas also makes it more expensive for farmers to harvest fruit and vegetables. That, combined with the increase in shipping, means a trip to the grocery store will cost more.
"I’m sure a good chunk of those price increases is because of the cost to get to market and the cost on farms in terms of the usage of gas," says Dan Shaw, a marketing and consumerism professor at Dalhousie University.
McTeague doesn't see any decrease in prices on the horizon. In fact, he's predicting that jump at the pump to a $1.50 a litre could happen within the next couple weeks
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.