While Canadians as a whole are consuming slightly less gas than at this time last year, this is not the case for Quebecers, who continue to fill up despite high prices, new data show.
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At self-service stations in Quebec, the average amount paid for each gas-related transaction jumped 31%, according to the firm Moneris, which handles a third of debit and credit card transactions in the country. .
The data covers expenditures for the period from February 28 to March 13.
The number of transactions also jumped 31% compared to the same period in 2021.
Across Canada, however, the number of gasoline-related transactions only increased 5% over the same period, with the average cost of each transaction jumping 26%.
“Quebecers are filling up more than in the rest of the country right now,” says Stephen Turgeon, vice-president of regional sales at Moneris.
And this, despite the marked increase in prices at the pump. From February 2021 to February 2022, Statistics Canada speaks of a jump of 32.6%.
“It is also linked to the fact that Quebec was hit by numerous health measures last winter,” adds Mr. Turgeon.
Indeed, Quebecers had to respect a curfew from January to May 2021, among other things, while this was not the case elsewhere in Canada. Their fuel consumption therefore decreased during this period.
Renewal of public transport
Transactions recorded by Moneris also indicate that the use of public transport is on the rise.
For the period from February 28 to March 13, we are talking regarding a 66% increase in transactions.
The same goes for the taxi, although to a lesser extent, with a jump of 43%.
“People are moving more, they are gradually returning to the office and the whole country is waking up”, analyzes Stephen Turgeon.
