[Dion]

'Gas bar shenanigans'

Edmonton prices were 136.2 cents per litre, up 13 cents from last week and 47.8 cents from 12 months ago.

McTeague says the biggest cause of this week's surge in Alberta prices was "gas bar shenanigans", as retailers who hadn't passed on recent increases in wholesale prices decided to catch up all at once.

He doesn't expect the increases to stick, pointing out some stations in Edmonton are already retreating.

"These prices will turtle but the point is that we are testing levels that have never been seen before," McTeague said.

He says average prices in Alberta are below the September 2008 peak.

But most people are likely paying more for fuel, he said, because current average is brought down by Costco, which tends to sell gas at cost in order to draw members into its stores.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...ries-1.4735427