Pain At The Pumps

While motorists across the province are still feeling the sting from the price at the pumps, drivers in Merritt can take some solace that locally the price of petroleum is among the lowest in British Columbia.

According to Gas Buddy.com, a litre of regular gas is selling in Merritt between $1.84.9 and $192.9.

The lowest price for fuel in BC today (as of 9:30 a.m.) is in Fairmont Hot Springs at $176.9.

Retailers on the coast continue to pay the most at the pumps. Over the weekend, some motorists reported a litre of regular gas was $2.10.9 in Vancouver.

At the pumps on Sunday, April Hagen from Merritt said she is concerned with the long term effect inflated gas prices will have on tourism this summer after two summers of dealing with travel restrictions due to Covid-19.

“It’s scary to see these prices, especially with the quantity of oil we have in our country,” Hagen added.

“It’s disappointing really, everyone was looking forward to travelling this summer after Covid-19 but now we see gas prices to almost two-dollars per litre.”

Hagen added that the price of airfares has drastically increased over the past week as well.

Jerry Blanchard of Merritt is more concerned with families already trying to get by on fixed incomes.

“Low income families are who I feel for right now,” he explained. “Most people have to travel to work and then they need to transport their children to outside activities, I have no idea how they will do it.”

According to the Canadian Automobile Association, B.C. had the highest average price across the country Friday at 186.4 cents per litre.

Roger.White@pattisonmedia.com