As fuel prices rise and fall, those making a living on the road say they've been hit hard
The price of stove oil is up dramatically across Newfoundland Thursday.
Newfoundland and Labrador's Public Utilities Board increased the maximum price of stove oil by 15.25 cents per litre Thursday. In Labrador, the price was lowered by 16.42 cents per litre.
The change puts the price of stove oil between $2.04 and $2.09 per litre on the Avalon Peninsula, while prices now range between $2.06 and $2.22 per litre in other parts of Newfoundland. The price in Labrador fluctuates from $1.63 to $2.21 per litre.
Prices for other fuels such as gasoline, diesel, and furnace oil all lowered Thursday. Furnace oil lowered almost five cents per litre, while gasoline lowered by just 0.1 cents per litre.
The maximum price for a self-serve litre of unleaded gas is now $1.82 per litre on the Avalon Peninsula. Prices range across the island from $1.845 in central Newfoundland, almost $1.88 on the Connaigre Peninsula, between $1.82 and $1.84 on the island's west coast and $1.85 on the north coast between Englee and St. Anthony.
Propane was the other fuel to increase, up 0.4 cents per litre.
I have to watch every single cost. - Chris Howlett
The price of diesel is down by more than three cents per litre across Newfoundland and Labrador, but the high price is still a major concern for Chris Howlett of Akita Equipment and Auto Transport in St. John's.
The PUB lowered the maximum price of diesel by 3.3 cents per litre Thursday. Customers on the Avalon Peninsula will now pay $2.538 per litre, while prices in other areas of Newfoundland range from $2.54 per litre to as much as $2.64 per litre in the La Poile area.
WATCH | The CBC's Garrett Barry hits the road with Akita Equipment to see how fuel costs are affecting business:
That can add up quickly in the transport business, Howlett said Wednesday, which is forcing him to look at the finances of every aspect of his business.
Putting 750 litres into one of his trucks Wednesday cost him around $1,800 — which he said will last about 16 hours on a busy day.
"Toronto is about 2,850 litres for a round trip to Ontario. So a round trip to Ontario, you would have to do that four times in order to complete a trip," he told CBC News Wednesday.
"I have to watch every single cost, and every move that we make is where we're making our money right now. We just have to be very careful of what we're doing."
Fuel is far from the only cost that Howlett sees rising as his labour costs, equipment costs and insurance continues to increase.
He fears it will only make things worse for consumers, as just about everything coming into Newfoundland and Labrador comes from a ferry or transport truck.
"When you go to the grocery store and you fill up the cart and it costs you an extra, you know, $100 or $200 or $300…the car that you drive in, your jacket that you're wearing," he said.
"Everything we have in Newfoundland comes by truck, so it's getting affected, you know, greatfully."
