Buy-gas-now! That's all we can tell you tonight, because prices are going up sharply at 12:01 am on Monday morning. The price of premium fuel will shoot up 55 cents, regular by 74 cents, diesel by 43 cents and kerosene by 40 cents. In the city, that will take the pump price of premium to $10.47 a gallon, regular to $10.42, and diesel to $7.50. Those are all time highs, coming just as world fuel prices hit their own record of US$75 a barrel. Of course, government hasn't announced it, so tonight's news report is the first most are hearing of the steep increase. Keith Swift took the early word to consumers at gas stations this afternoon, and the reaction he got was stunned disbelief.
KS: Do you know that Sunday night regular is going up by 75 cents?
Driver #1: Again? No idea. I don't know what to say about that. 75 cents? That will be about what...
KS: Right you are paying $9.50 so it will go to $10.25.
Driver #1: That's for regular so what will we charge for taxi fare then.
KS: Taxi going up?
Driver #1: It has to.
KS: You are paying $9.92. Do you know that Sunday night it will go up by 56 cents?
Driver #2: Wow. I didn't know that man, thanks for the information
but we will see what will happen.
KS: You think you'll be able to pay the extra 56 cents?
Driver #2: That all depends man, it depends on the...why are they having this tax again. If I have to park and walk then that will have to be.
KS: Do you know that Sunday night gas will go up by 56 cents?
Driver #3: Again? No I didn't know that.
KS: Right now you are paying $9.92 so you will pay like...
Driver #3: Like ten change.
KS: You think you can afford that?
Driver #3: No. I'll have to sell my vehicle and ketch bus.
KS: Do you know that on Sunday night it will go up by 75 cents?
Driver #4: I am not aware of that.
KS: You think you can afford it?
Driver #4: Well I have to work so I have to pay it. I don't really agree with it because the gas is going up and nothing else is going up, your pay doesn't go up, so it's kind of really unfair for the people who are trying to work hard, especially me because I work for myself and it's not easy. But
I wasn't aware it was going up by 75 cents.
Driver #5: Regular.
KS: What if I tell you that right now you are paying $9.50 and on Sunday it's going to go up by 75 cents.
Driver #5: It is going to be $10.25?
KS: You got it right.
Driver #5: Why so?
KS: I don't know.
Driver #5: Every time we pay more and more and more. We don't know what happened.
Again, the increases go into effect at 12:01 am on Monday morning. So you'd best get to those gas stations now.
