Gas prices in Manitoba shatter records for second time in less than a week

The cost to fill up a tank of gasoline hit a new record high in Manitoba Monday for the second time in less than a week as fuel prices across the country continue to soar. 

The average recorded in Manitoba Monday was 165.1 cents per litre according to GasBuddy.com data, though CBC News observed some gas stations with prices as high as 189.9 cents per litre. 

That's only five days after fuel prices in the province shattered a previous record, when the average price of a litre of gasoline in Manitoba rose to 150.2 cents per litre last Thursday. 

Last week, Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, warned that prices could go up another 10 cents a litre, or even as much as 25 cents. 

Experts have said these sky-high prices are being driven by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has led to supply disruptions from one of the world's largest oil producers. 

It's causing high anxiety for some who rely on driving to make a living. 

Mike Makarich, owner of Shilo Delivery in Brandon, says the high price of fuel has forced him to raise his prices, which has resulted in losing some business. 

"It has cost me a couple of contracts because they didn't see the benefit in paying more for delivery when they can do it themselves, thinking it would be cheaper," he said. 

He says he's also losing drivers, who say they can't afford to keep working for him because they use their personal vehicles to make deliveries. 

At UniCity Taxi, manager Manmohan Gill says the prices are impacting drivers' livelihoods because they pay for the gas in their cabs out of pocket, while cab fare has not changed for years. 

"So basically, they are losing this money on gas," he said. 

One Winnipegger says there are things you can do to save a few bucks on fuel. 

Dale Kibbins has been hypermiling for years, which is the act of driving your vehicle more efficiently so you end up using less fuel. 

Kibbins suggests being aware of how aggressively you're driving, because the more times you rev up and slow down, the more fuel you could be using. 

"Basically the harder the engines working, the more fuel you're using," he said. 

LISTEN | Winnipegger explains how he hypermiles to save money on gas and help the environment:

He said he tries to avoid slamming on the brakes and planning trips so he doesn't have to stop and start as much. 

It's also a good idea to make sure the tires are aligned properly and have the right air pressure, as that can also make a difference, he said. 

"Having proper air pressure and balancing your tires and making sure you do your tune ups and oil checks and things like that actually makes a shocking amount of difference for fuel efficiency."