Toronto drivers should be prepared to experience gas pains in the coming months as the price at the pumps climbs higher and higher, a leading gasoline watcher warns.
Gas prices in the city have already jumped by about 13 cents a litre on average over the past month, but that "upward trend" is likely just the beginning, predicts gasbuddy.com, which operates hundreds of price-tracking websites such as torontogasprices.com.
"I think (regular) gas will hit $1.20 a litre by the spring," Jason Toews, co-founder of gasbuddy, said yesterday. "Depending on what happens with the price of crude oil between now and then, it may even go as high as $1.30 or $1.40."
Even more troubling, Toews said he wouldn't be surprised if gas prices soar to $2 or $3 per litre in the next few years.
While that may seem unbelievable, he points out that it wasn't that long ago motorists were shocked at the thought of $1 a litre.
In 2005, after Hurricane Katrina, gas prices surpassed that mark for the first time and people were outraged, Toews said, adding the signs at most service stations couldn't even fit the extra digit.
"Everyone was talking about boycotting gas companies back then," Toews said. "But today (as most pump prices hover around $1 per litre) nobody is even talking about it."
He said gas has been so expensive in recent years that motorists are actually "thankful" when they pull up to the pumps and see the price is $1 per litre.
"We've become desensitized," Toews said.
Four years ago, people were suddenly paying closer attention to their fuel consumption, waiting until they had several errands to run before they would pull their vehicles out of their driveways.
Smaller, more fuel efficient cars were suddenly all the rage and some people even got rid of their vehicles and used public transit instead.
"But when the prices dropped a little, most people returned to their old driving habits," Toews said. "Now we just budget more money each week for fuel and make sacrifices in other areas of our lives."
He said it's not hard to imagine a day when people find themselves having to choose between putting gas in the car to get to work or putting food on the table.
"It's happening already, especially with the recession," Toews said.
To find the best gas prices in your area, visit www.torontogasprices.com.
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GAS PAINS
Prices on the rise
Gas prices were on the rise all across Toronto yesterday. Here's a look at gas prices over the last year (cents per litre of regular on average).
One year ago -- 92.7
One month ago -- 90.1
One week ago -- 99.7
Yesterday -- 100.8
Next spring (projected) -- 120.00.
-- gasbuddy.com
