Why Ontario Gas Prices Are Jumping 6 Cents a Litre
Ontario's pump prices are moving again. Gas in Toronto and the GTA is forecast to rise six cents a litre on Thursday, putting 189.9 cents per litre at most stations. Ottawa is expected to get the same six-cent increase, according to CTV News.
The forecast comes from Roger McKnight, chief petroleum analyst at En-Pro International. CityNews Toronto reports the move would be the highest daily price in the region since May, when the GTA saw 192.9 cents per litre. Drivers filling up after midnight should expect to pay about $1.90 a litre.
A Market Already in Motion
The six-cent jump is not an isolated event. Prices have swung sharply in recent weeks. In September, the GTA's price moved from 187.9 cents per litre, fell eight cents the next day, and then rose seven cents the day after that. The repeated back-and-forth has become part of the pattern at Ontario stations.
McKnight attributes the latest increase to a combination of market pressures. Refinery output, seasonal demand, and global crude fluctuations are all playing a role. Those forces have pushed regular gasoline to its highest point in weeks.
Diesel Is Moving Faster
Gasoline is not the only fuel heading higher. Diesel is forecast to jump 11 cents a litre in the GTA, bringing the price to 264.9 cents per litre. CityNews reports that the steeper increase reflects freight demand and tighter supply. Diesel powers trucks and delivery vehicles, and the move is tied directly to freight and supply conditions.
The Ottawa forecast, as reported by CTV News, covers the six-cent gasoline increase but does not say whether diesel there will follow the same 11-cent move as the GTA.
What the Higher Prices Mean
The strain is already visible in household budgets. A CAA survey cited by CTV News found that seven in ten Ontarians aged 35 to 54 say rising prices are affecting their day-to-day activities. That finding offers a measure of the real-world weight behind the overnight forecast.
For now, the next change is set to arrive overnight. Drivers filling up after midnight in Toronto, the GTA, and Ottawa should see the six-cent increase, while diesel drivers in the GTA face the larger jump.