The price of gasoline in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean jumped throughout the day on Wednesday, with a difference of 18 cents between certain retailers, an increase that is making motorists less than happy.
On Talbot Boulevard in Chicoutimi, some dealers charge $1.38 a liter, others as much as $1.56.
“There's a retailer somewhere that decided, 'Well, we're not making any more money… We're raising prices.' Except that $1.56 or even $1.59 in Lac-Saint-Jean is downright abusive,” explained Eric Dionne, who has analyzed the price of gasoline for more than 20 years and founded the Facebook page EssenceSagLac to inform his fellow citizens.
Strong competition in the region has forced retailers to keep their prices very low in recent weeks for the benefit of motorists.
“The fair and reasonable price for the consumer and retailer is $1.49. “Those who are charging $1.56 are doing so because they want to make up for the many days they sold at a loss,” Mr. Dionne added.
The next few hours will be crucial. “If we see what has been happening for several months, some are raising prices, others are not following suit. For what ? Due to competition, competition is high in the region. “During this time, prices can fall again,” said the expert.
CAA-Quebec encourages consumers to shop where they fill up. The rise in fuel prices inevitably causes resentment.
“It's a bit annoying, sometimes we have to drive further from home to find a cheaper place,” criticized one driver.
In addition, Outaouais has for some time overtaken Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean in the ranking of regions with the cheapest gasoline sales in the province.