Simcoe County residents and businesses describe pain at the pumps

While there was a drastic drop prices at the pumps on Friday, businesses and residents are still feeling the strain on their wallets.

Friday morning’s slight price drop in gas has helped ease some of the pain many have been experiencing, but people say they know it’s only for a short time.

Several businesses say they have held off as long as they can without passing some of the costs.

“It’s painful how much gas is right now especially with everything else going on right now with high inflation, with grocery prices - it’s definitely hurting the wallet right now. It’s tough to survive,” said Barrie resident Evan Carter.

Mike Rudkins, better known as Mike the Mattress guy, has been in business for 50 years and says he’s been able to hold off on hiking charges through adjustments in the way he operates.

“To go to some place, I don’t know, just say pick Innisfil or something like that, we charge $20 so it isn’t enough to even cover the gas or my guys,” said Rudkins.

He said he’s been planning ahead more lately.

“So instead of doing one delivery here to Midland and then going back up there the next day, we’re trying to do as many as we can in the same area as best we can,” said Rudkins.

From food to clothing to flowers, everyone is feeling the pain at the pumps.

“Yeah, we are on the brink of increasing our prices,” said Lachlan McGurt, owner of Bern’s Flowers and Gifts in Alliston. “We’ve resisted over the last year increasing them and even before the war, we’ve all seen the prices increase but we are at that point now where we’re probably going to have increase a litre.”

Gas price insiders say the price of gas lately has been it’s highest since the summer of 2022.

People filling up at the pumps Friday told CTV News they find themselves in a a bit of a Catch 22. On one hand, they want to fill up at the best possible price, but admit when the tank is empty, they have no choice but to fill it up at whatever cost. Some people do say if the price seems high, they can fill up a half tank and check back with the next day in hopes of a price drop.