Gas-war hallucinations

Photo: Toronto Star

Last week, I passed through Kelowna to catch a flight and noticed a fuel price at a gas station - $1.28/litre. 

I thought I had misread, so I pulled in and checked and sure enough the gas was down almost 13 cents cheaper than at other stations. 

Not paying attention any more and not sure if what I saw was real because I filled up with premium and said to my son that I had no idea prices had come down so steeply in Kelowna. 

He thought I was simply forgetful or too busy to notice the real price — $1.43+/-

Turns out he was right.

We went out for supper and every gas station I passed was $1.43 — the usual collusion. I must have not been paying close enough attention.

On my return from the U.S., I pulled into Kelowna and noticed a gas station at $1.31. I wasn’t dreaming. But later in the day, that same station was back to everyone else’s pricing. 

The family still doesn’t believe me, but I am back in Kelowna today and on my way to the airport more than two Chevron stations were $1.31 while everyone else was hovering around $1.40.

They had obviously put pressure on their neighbouring stations in each proximity because those stations were following suit. But everyone else around was the higher price. 

So do we have a gas war? 

I am not sure, and whatever is happening it is probably not long term, but if I saw gas at a seven per cent discount, I would take advantage of it.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.