More bad news for Airdrie drivers

Gas prices are anticipated to keep going in the wrong direction for the time being.

The most recent hike in prices is being attributed to the provincial government fully reinstating the province-wide fuel tax, as well as federal carbon prices being raised on the same day.

According to Patrick De Haan, Head of Petroleum Analysis at Gas Buddy, rising oil prices will soon affect our gas prices again.

"A barrel of West Texas Intermediate crude oil, one of the global benchmarks is now at its highest level since October nearing $86 a barrel. It's likely to continue pushing gasoline prices up."

Most gas stations in Airdrie are currently around the $161.9 range for regular gas while the provincial average according to De Haan is $157.8, up from $149.8 a week ago.

"An eight cents a litre jump here, just in the last week alone, coupled with rising oil prices, certainly sets the stage for potential further increases."

De Haan said he expects prices to go up a few cents within the next week or so.

"Diesel prices have been showing at least some level of stability.  But the two could switch spots where diesel prices may become cheaper than gasoline. The Alberta average right now for diesel is $166.9"

According to De Haan, switching to cleaner blends of gas for the summer months and the uptick in demand has and will contribute to continued increases in price.

"I do think Alberta's average could go up another 10 or 15 cents a litre before the increases are done."

De Haan hopes Alberta will stay below the 2022 high when the provincial average hit $189.6.

"Hopefully once we get to May long weekend, we should start to see some measure of relief."

In late March, the province announced that the fuel tax relief program would be ending and that on April 1, the fuel tax would be reinstated in full at 13 cents per litre for gas and diesel, signalling a 4-cent rise in the tax, as it was already at 9 cents previously.

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