Most vehicle owners are not comfortable with the continuous rise in gas prices. If you own a car, your bank account will surely be affected by the amount of gas that you have to buy regularly especially if you commute long distances every day. Learning how to find cheap gas in your local area will help you to make some savings.
- How to Get Cheap Gas Prices in The USA And Canada
- Is it Cheap to Buy Gas in The US or Canada?
- Where is The Cheapest Place to Buy Gas in The United States?
- How Much is Gas in Canada in US Dollar?
- Why is Gas so Much Cheaper in The US Than Canada?
- Where is Gas Cheapest in The World?
- What State Has The Least Expensive Gas?
- Why is Gas in Canada so Expensive?
- How Much is Rent in Canada?
- How Much is a Litre of Gas in USA?
- Is Canadian Gas Better Than American?
- Does Canada Make Gasoline?
- What State Has The Highest Gas Tax?
- What is Top Tier Gasoline Canada?
- Who Has The Best Gas in Canada?
- Which Gas Has no Ethanol in Canada?
- How Much is a Litre of Gas in Canada?
How to Get Cheap Gas Prices in The USA And Canada
Below are a few tips that will help you to get cheap gas prices in the USA and Canada.
Take Notes
Get ready to do some research. Gas prices are usually different from one gas station to the other. Keep a notebook in your car and note the prices of gas at each gas station that you come across from day to day. If you do this for a few days, you will discover the gas stations that have the cheapest prices in your local area.
Always Buy From A Busy Gas Station
Try as much as you can to buy gas from a station that is very busy. Gasoline does not stay for extended periods in the underground tanks of a busy gas station. This means that every time your tank is filled, you will always have a fresh supply of gas.
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If you buy from a station that is not busy, the gasoline would have been in the underground tank for a long time and it may be contaminated. This means that it will not provide as much power as the fresh alternative.
Choose The Right Time Of The Day
Another way to get cheap gas prices in the USA and Canada is to buy at particular periods of the day. Gas is denser when the temperature is colder. The pumps at the gas stations are designed to measure only the volume of the liquid that is dispensed.
Therefore, the best time to make your purchase is in the mornings and evenings when the temperature is much cooler. You will get a little more gasoline for the same price.
Other Tips
Raise the bottom of the nozzle as far up as it can go when you are filling your tank. This drains more fuel into the tank. If you do not drain the nozzle properly, you are leaving about half a cup of fuel for the next customer.
If you do this every time, it will soon become a habit. You do not really have to buy high octane gas for your car. Regular unleaded fuel is what is recommended by most manufacturers so it is good enough for your car.
Use Online Resources
There are several online resources that provide information about where to buy cheap gas prices in the USA and Canada. Some of the most popular websites that you can check include Gas Buddy, Gas Price Watch and MSN Auto. You can find gas prices by location when you visit these websites.
These services are very valuable especially when you are on a road trip. You can easily plan where to stop and fill your tank when you know the gas stations that have the best prices.
Is it Cheap to Buy Gas in The US or Canada?
Gasoline is more expensive in Canada. It’s not unusual to find it costs 50 % more to fill up in Canada versus the USA.
Canada has a large quantity of petroleum reserves but if gasoline is also highly taxed at the consumer level. Canadians who live near the Canadian borders are frequently seen just across the USA border filling both their tanks and several jerry cans to bring home less expensive gasoline.
Prices have been historically higher for a long time compared to the US, and obviously it’s painfully complicated.
It’s a combination of many factors including market demand, supply fluctuations from weather or regional instability (and market location), currency values (as the CAD rarely meets parity or better to the USD), and provincial and/or federal taxes (excise, carbon and sales).
To further complicate things, profit margins (the market price vs. wholesale price) for fuel aren’t fixed from city to city let alone across the country.
Vancouver and Victoria see some of the highest levels of refining margins most likely because they source their oil from the much-closer Albertan fields and not necessarily international markets (via pipelines and rail vs. shipped in via tanker). Halifax enjoys relatively lower margins and – even after 15% sales taxing – total prices overall.
As your included news article mentions, the US demand has also increased, meaning that any producer who has the ability to supply to their markets will try to set competitive pricing to move volume, leaving local markets (like Canadians for example) to “fight over scraps” (not that we’re necessarily starving for fuel, but we’re paying a premium nonetheless for international market demand).
For example (regarding international demand vs. local demand) in 2015, wood pellets were (and still are) in high demand in European markets. Wood producers who manufactured those pellets from sawdust in Nova Scotia had moved much of their products overseas, leaving a shortage locally during an especially cold winter. This resulted in prices increasing as well as many folks struggling as they made the choice to heat their homes solely with wood pellets.
Where is The Cheapest Place to Buy Gas in The United States?
Hawaii leads the nation at $2.42 a gallon for regular, followed by California at $2.25 and Nevada at $2.20.
These figures are averages for each state. Gas prices within each state can vary greatly.
The AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report is based on a survey of over 60,000 self-serve stations.
| State | Regular | Mid | Premium | Diesel |
| Alabama | $1.89 | $2.03 | $2.09 | $2.11 |
| Alaska | $1.98 | $2.10 | $2.22 | $2.06 |
| Arkansas | $1.92 | $2.02 | $2.15 | $2.12 |
| Arizona | $2.03 | $2.12 | $2.24 | $2.30 |
| California | $2.25 | $2.39 | $2.43 | $2.48 |
| Colorado | $2.00 | $2.14 | $2.23 | $2.20 |
| Connecticut | $2.01 | $2.18 | $2.24 | $2.34 |
| District of Columbia | $2.00 | $2.12 | $2.19 | $2.21 |
| Delaware | $1.91 | $2.03 | $2.12 | $2.21 |
| Florida | $1.99 | $2.15 | $2.19 | $2.23 |
| Georgia | $1.88 | $2.02 | $2.11 | $2.09 |
| Hawaii | $2.42 | $2.56 | $2.61 | $2.66 |
| Iowa | $1.95 | $2.06 | $2.15 | $2.14 |
| Idaho | $1.99 | $2.10 | $2.16 | $2.47 |
| Illinois | $2.03 | $2.19 | $2.25 | $2.27 |
| Indiana | $2.02 | $2.17 | $2.23 | $2.14 |
| Kansas | $2.00 | $2.05 | $2.13 | $2.17 |
| Kentucky | $1.95 | $2.09 | $2.18 | $2.07 |
| Louisiana | $1.88 | $2.00 | $2.09 | $2.09 |
| Massachusetts | $1.95 | $2.10 | $2.17 | $2.26 |
| Maryland | $1.95 | $2.07 | $2.12 | $2.21 |
| Maine | $1.99 | $2.14 | $2.20 | $2.26 |
| Michigan | $2.08 | $2.20 | $2.29 | $2.20 |
| Minnesota | $1.99 | $2.07 | $2.13 | $2.19 |
| Missouri | $1.92 | $2.00 | $2.12 | $2.06 |
| Mississippi | $1.89 | $1.99 | $2.08 | $2.07 |
| Montana | $2.04 | $2.12 | $2.23 | $2.36 |
| North Carolina | $1.91 | $2.03 | $2.12 | $2.13 |
| North Dakota | $2.04 | $2.11 | $2.18 | $2.20 |
| Nebraska | $2.04 | $2.09 | $2.14 | $2.18 |
| New Hampshire | $1.93 | $2.10 | $2.17 | $2.24 |
| New Jersey | $1.83 | $1.96 | $2.04 | $2.13 |
| New Mexico | $1.98 | $2.11 | $2.20 | $2.19 |
| Nevada | $2.20 | $2.31 | $2.40 | $2.37 |
| New York | $2.06 | $2.20 | $2.25 | $2.37 |
| Ohio | $2.04 | $2.18 | $2.27 | $2.22 |
| Oklahoma | $1.91 | $1.98 | $2.09 | $2.05 |
| Oregon | $2.08 | $2.19 | $2.22 | $2.66 |
| Pennsylvania | $1.98 | $2.08 | $2.18 | $2.30 |
| Rhode Island | $1.98 | $2.11 | $2.18 | $2.29 |
| South Carolina | $1.84 | $1.96 | $2.05 | $2.06 |
| South Dakota | $2.01 | $2.14 | $2.23 | $2.18 |
| Tennessee | $1.89 | $2.00 | $2.10 | $2.09 |
| Texas | $1.87 | $1.98 | $2.05 | $2.08 |
| Utah | $1.95 | $2.05 | $2.14 | $2.31 |
| Virginia | $1.87 | $1.96 | $2.04 | $2.11 |
| Vermont | $1.95 | $2.10 | $2.19 | $2.33 |
| Washington | $2.07 | $2.15 | $2.25 | $2.72 |
| Wisconsin | $2.06 | $2.14 | $2.23 | $2.23 |
| West Virginia | $2.03 | $2.12 | $2.22 | $2.23 |
| Wyoming | $1.92 | $2.00 | $2.14 | $2.14 |
| Source: AAA |
How Much is Gas in Canada in US Dollar?
| Canada Gasoline prices | Liter | Gallon |
|---|---|---|
| CAD | 1.552 | 5.875 |
| USD | 1.215 | 4.599 |
| EUR | 1.037 | 3.925 |
U.S. Gallon Gasoline prices per liter, octane-95: We show prices for Canada from 24-May-2021 to 23-Aug-2021. The average value for Canada during that period was 1.55 Canadian Dollar with a minimum of 1.49 Canadian Dollar on 31-May-2021 and a maximum of 1.60 Canadian Dollar on 16-Aug-2021. For comparison, the average price of gasoline in the world for this period is 2.03 Canadian Dollar. Use the drop menu to see the prices in gallons.
For comparability, we show the prices of Mid-grade gasoline which is similar to Octane-95 gasoline used in other countries. Regular gasoline, the most widely used gasoline in Canada, is about 13 percent cheaper.
Why is Gas so Much Cheaper in The US Than Canada?
It’s true – Canadians do pay more at the pump than Americans, despite the fact that Canada is one of the most resource-rich countries in the world (Canada has much higher proven oil reserves than the United States does).
So what gives? Shouldn’t the United States be paying more, not less?
The main reason for the difference? Taxes.
Canadians, on average, pay roughly $1.20 USD per gallon of gasoline in TAXES. This works out to approximately 32 cents (USD) per liter in taxes.
Americans, on average, pay roughly 49.5 cents USD per gallon of gasoline in taxes. This works out to approximately 13.2 cents (USD) per liter in taxes.
Americans have to pay a number of different taxes every time that they fill up. A federal excise tax. State excise taxes. The list goes on and on. The average American, as mentioned, will pay 49.5 cents per gallon in taxes.
Canadians have a long list of taxes to pay as well every time that they fill up at the pump. A federal excise tax. A provincial tax. GST/HST. In addition, depending on where you live in the country, you may have to pay a provincial sales tax, a carbon tax or even a transit tax. This works out to an average hit of $1.20 USD per gallon of gasoline (there are 3.785 liters in a gallon).
Where is Gas Cheapest in The World?
With the price of diesel and standard gasoline steadily rising every week, everybody in the American transportation industry is feeling it. But, just how cheap is our gas, compared to other countries? It might surprise you to see just how expensive it is for some countries to drive, and how cheap it is for others.
Here are the top ten countries with the cheapest gas prices, according to a Bloomberg report:
1. Venezuela
Venezuela, while overall a rather impoverished nation, is rich in oil reserves and fossil fuels, and uses that particular wealth to provide their people with virtually free gasoline. Yeah, it is strange to think about, isn’t it? But it is true. Technically, the price per gallon at the Venezuelan pumps is $ 0.01 —meaning that it would cost pennies to fill up a rig. Sounds like a fleet owner’s dream.
2. Iran
Clearly, there is a trend— logically, the countries with the most oil reserves pay the least. The Iranians, with huge oil reserves of their own, charge $0.43 per gallon.
3. Kuwait
Another oil-rich country whose GDP is bolstered by their fuel exports. The Kuwaitis pay $1.31 per gallon.
4. Nigeria
At Nigerian pumps, you pay $1.52 per gallon. Still, despite the low price, with the low average income in Nigeria, it is considered quite expensive to fill up.
5. Egypt
The price in Egypt is still low, but the gap between the top three countries and numbers 4-10 is rather large. The Egyptians pay $1.76 per gallon, and, while that is still really cheap, it is a huge jump from the seventy-five cents (or lower) of the first three countries.
6. Malaysia
The government of Malaysia has in place several fuel subsidies that keep prices at $2.08 per gallon.
7. Saudi Arabia
Seeing the Saudis on this list is far less surprising than the Venezuelans and their cheaper gas prices. Saudi Arabia, known the world over for their oil riches, charges drivers $2.12 per gallon.
8. The United Arab Emirates
Another OPEC country, another lower rate– $2.49 per gallon.
9. Pakistan
Pakistan is seeing the third increase in fuel price since Imran Khan became prime minister last August. The average price of gas per gallon is $2.65
10. Russia
Russia rounds out the list with huge oil reserves and has taken advantage of them. The oil industry is big in the Russian economy, and gasoline costs $2.75per gallon.
What State Has The Least Expensive Gas?
Note that the gas prices in the USA frequently change, following some trends. In late summer, for instance, the costs grow as that’s the period when Americans drive the most. During winter months, by contrast, the gasoline prices per gallon drop alongside the demand.
In the table below, you can find the national gas prices by state recorded in September 2020. Meaning, these averages are likely to change going forward. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that these generally low prices were heavily affected by the COVID-19 crisis. So, the average gas prices throughout the country are expected to grow once life and the economy get back to normal.
Why is Gas in Canada so Expensive?
A gas-price analyst said fuel prices hit an all-time high in Vancouver Friday and have risen dramatically across the country, with further increases expected down the road.
Dan McTeague, president of Canadians for Affordable Energy, said average gas prices in Vancouver reached $1.74 per litre Friday, with prices in Ontario at an average of $1.35 per litre.
He expects prices to climb even higher as airline travel picks up and the easing of pandemic restrictions increases demand for fuel.
Mr. McTeague says it is notable how quickly gas prices have gone up, with average prices in Canada up 30 cents since the beginning of the year.
“That’s pretty significant, and we haven’t quite reached what we’re going to reach,” he said.
He says the rise was due to a rapid increase in demand as North America reopens from pandemic lockdowns.
The ongoing heat wave in the western part of the continent has also added pressure, with some refineries at lower operating levels.
“It’s the development of a perfect storm for consumers and we best be prepared for it and look for a very expensive year ahead,” said Mr. McTeague.
He said he expects the price of crude oil to reach around $84 per barrel, compared to $75 per barrel on Friday.
There are more signs that oil prices will climb, he added, such as the fact that there have been six straight weeks of declines in oil inventories, with the U.S Energy Information Agency reporting an average shortage of around five million barrels
Mr. McTeague said it’s the longest recorded streak of declines, and is because of a continued reduction in the amount of oil extraction in North America.
How Much is Rent in Canada?
| Rent Per Month | ||
|---|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre | 1,335.07 C$ | 859.72-2,072.22 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre | 1,125.12 C$ | 673.53-1,700.00 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre | 2,171.12 C$ | 1,418.75-3,794.05 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre | 1,832.39 C$ | 1,065.00-2,901.55 |
How Much is a Litre of Gas in USA?
| USA Gasoline prices | Liter | Gallon |
|---|---|---|
| USD | 0.927 | 3.509 |
| EUR | 0.791 | 2.994 |
U.S. Gallon Gasoline prices per liter, octane-95: We show prices for USA from 24-May-2021 to 23-Aug-2021. The average value for USA during that period was 0.91 U.S. Dollar with a minimum of 0.89 U.S. Dollar on 24-May-2021 and a maximum of 0.93 U.S. Dollar on 19-Jul-2021.
For comparison, the average price of gasoline in the world for this period is 1.59 U.S. Dollar. Use the drop menu to see the prices in gallons.
To ensure comparability, for the U.S. we report the prices of Mid-grade gasoline as it is closest to the Octane-95 gasoline used in most of the world. Regular gasoline that is the most widely used in the U.S. is about 13 percent cheaper than Mid-grade gasoline.
Also note that there are large differences across U.S. states. Prices in the Western states are about 20 percent higher than the national average and in California they are about 50 percent higher. The prices in the Midwest and the South are about 5-10 percent lower than the national average. In the North East, the prices are about 5 percent higher.
Is Canadian Gas Better Than American?
You can save a few kilometres and some fuel by shopping at your nearby Shell station rather than crossing the border. Shell says the gasoline supplied by a Shell site in British Columbia or Washington State would both be Top Tier quality.
Shell says that, “in terms of detergency, the two countries are on par at Shell sites.” On both sides of the border in your location, Shell V-Power would provide detergency better than required by the Top Tier rating suggested by some manufacturers.
In Canada, the octane levels for bronze is 87 and for V-Power 91. In Washington State, it’s 87 for what is known there as main grade and 92 for V-Power. Shell says volatility would actually be about the same in both the Lower Fraser Valley and Coastal Washington State, as they have similar weather.
“In the Lower Fraser Valley, Bronze (87) contains 10 per cent Ethanol. Shell V-Power in Canada currently does not contain any Ethanol. In Washington State, both main grade and V-Power would contain 10 per cent Ethanol.”
The company says it takes extra steps at Canadian refineries to filter fuel containing ethanol against water and phase separation.
It is important to note that refineries in the two countries – and in different regions of both countries – produce fuel according to specifications laid out by their respective governing bodies. The “specs” are similar, but not identical. The Canadian specifications cover a wider range of temperatures and conditions.
Shell, for example, uses more volatile fuel here in winter “to provide better cold starts and driveability.” Shell and other mainstream refiners are constantly adjusting their fuels on an almost weekly basis, one of the reasons I am constantly recommending the use of fresh fuel.
The fuels also differ geographically. Shell typically only uses ethanol in regular grade fuels, in specific markets including the Lower Fraser Valley and Southern Ontario; ethanol is used in all regular grade fuels in the United States, regardless of the refinery of origin.
Octane ratings for regular, mid-grade and premium Shell fuels across Canada are 87/89/91. In the United States, an 85-octane fuel is available in some markets of higher elevation such as the Rockies and premium ratings for premium can range from 91 to 93, depending upon the market.
Shell says that there are environmental differences between the regulations as well. “The federal limit on benzene in gasoline is currently lower in Canada than the U.S., so our levels of benzene are lower; typically we are also lower in sulphur content than in the U.S.”
Does Canada Make Gasoline?
Canada has vast gasoline production and transportation infrastructure that ensures flexible and reliable supply for Canadians. Canada’s gasoline supply chain begins with oil extraction and processing. Most of Canada’s domestic oil production happens in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB). Refineries located in, or near, the WCSB refine local domestic oil.
In eastern Canada, refineries process less domestic crude and more imports. This is due to higher transportation costs, limited pipeline access to western Canadian domestic oil, and the inability of refineries to process WCSB heavy crude oil.
There are 14 gasoline-producing refineries in Canada (17 refineries in total): 6 in western Canada, 4 in Ontario, 2 in Quebec, and 2 in the Atlantic Provinces. Although production varies by refinery, gasoline comprises the largest portion of refinery output at 36%, on average. Refineries also produce a number of other refined petroleum products (RPPs) including diesel and jet fuel.
Gasoline and other RPPs are transported from refineries to storage terminals near cities and towns. Gasoline markets are highly localized, and production in each region tends to stay local. A web of pipelines, railways, shipping routes, and highways is used to distribute gasoline from refineries to terminals between Vancouver Island and Thunder Bay.
Similar webs of infrastructure distribute gasoline from refineries in Ontario to terminals between Sarnia and Ottawa; from refineries in Quebec to terminals between Ottawa and the Atlantic coast; and from refineries in New Brunswick and Newfoundland to terminals around the Atlantic Provinces.
Terminals serve as receipt and distribution points for domestic and imported gasoline, and decide wholesale pricing for local markets. Due to the relatively small volumes demanded by individual and dispersed facilities, transportation of gasoline from terminals is done almost exclusively by truck.
After gasoline is purchased at local gas stations and bulk storage plants, it powers personal and freight transport vehicles, and other industrial machinery. In 2018, domestic sales of motor gasoline totaled 46 billion litres, and represented 42% of total domestic RPP sales.
What State Has The Highest Gas Tax?
California has the highest tax rate on gasoline in the United States. As of January 2021, the gas tax in California amounted to 63 U.S. cents per gallon, compared with a total gas price of 3.38 U.S. dollars per gallon. Meanwhile, Alaska has the lowest gas tax out of all U.S. states, at 14 U.S. cents that same month.
What is Top Tier Gasoline Canada?
TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline (TTDG) is a new class of fuel that helps keep engines cleaner for optimal fuel economy, improved engine performance and lower emissions. It is based on a fuel performance standard developed by BMW, GM, Honda and Toyota. TTDG is guaranteed to contain more effective detergency and to be free of deposit-forming metallic additives, at no extra cost to the consumer.
TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline (TTDG) is a new class of fuel that helps keep engines cleaner for optimal fuel economy,improved engine performance and lower emissions.
- Many brands of gasoline are formulated with less optimal additive packages that allow deposits to build in fuel injectors, intake valves and combustion chambers.
- These deposits deprive the engine of performance and responsiveness, in addition to reducing its fuel economy and long-term reliability.
- Gasoline brands of this designation meet new, voluntary standards and have demonstrated their ability to keep engines clean through a series of demanding tests.
- TTDG is guaranteed to contain more effective detergency and to be free of deposit-forming metallic additives, at no extra cost to the consumer.
Who Has The Best Gas in Canada?
Shell
The Shell name has been around a long time, over 100 years, in fact. As you might have guessed, they’ve learned a lot about gas along the way.
The draw with Shell gas is its nitrogen-enriched formula. Which they claim helps remove deposit buildup and prevent further growth.
Mobil
Dating back to the mid-1980s, Mobil is one of the best-known names when it comes to quality gasoline. In 1999, they merged with Exxon to form Exxon Mobile, making it one of the largest oil companies in the entire world.
Their secret is Mobile Synergy, a unique blend of 9 different additives. A few of these include 3 different detergents, a friction modifier, and a corrosion inhibitor.
Costco
Costco sells just about everything, and as of 1995, it began selling gas. Not only is Costco gas Top Tier certified, but it also carries the benchmark of being a Kirkland Signature product.
The selling point for Costco gas is that it’s high-quality but also costs less, as much a 21 cents per gallon less.
Sinclair
In May of 1916, 11 small petroleum companies merged to form Sinclair Oil and Refining Corp. 104 years later, there are now more than 1,300 Sinclair stations nationwide.
Sinclair gas contains Dinocare, which is a mix of several additives designed to increase how well your engine performs. This includes reducing engine deposits, optimizing fuel economy, and lowering annual maintenance costs.
Chevron
1879 – that is the year the world got Chevron gas. They are also the brand behind the adorable talking car commercials.
Techron is the name given to their proprietary mix of fuel additives, which is designed to break down, clear out, and prevent carbon buildup.
Which Gas Has no Ethanol in Canada?
For those of you looking for safeguards against the ravages of ethanol-blended gasoline, there are a number of precautions you can take. The first is that you can simply avoid it in the first place. According to Dan McTeague, a noted petroleum analyst, Shell and Esso 91 are both ethanol free.
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All other grades from the companies have some ethanol content, but the mid-grade blend is pure gas, which means it not only corrodes less than ethanol blends, but is less likely to deteriorate when stored. Don’t be misled into thinking higher octane gas contains less ethanol.
In fact, it has more! The octane rating of pure ethanol is 100, but when it’s blended with gasoline, it performs as if it’s 112. In other words, higher-octane blends — Petro Canada’s 94 and Esso’s 93 — use more ethanol, not less.
For those storing their vehicles for the winter, specialty gasoline makers — yes, there are boutique gasoline manufacturers! — offer ethanol-free formulations specifically tailored for a long shelf life (as much as two years). For those on a budget, a trip down to Canadian Tire for some fuel stabilizer is usually good enough to preserve your pump gas — use that Shell and Esso 91 stuff — over the winter.
How Much is a Litre of Gas in Canada?
The average retail price for regular, unleaded gasoline at self-service stations in Canada was 118.2 Canadian cents per liter in February 2021. Prices hit an all-time low of 77.8 dollars per liter in April 2020.
Crude oil prices, along with changing levels of consumer demand, are the two main factors which directly affect retail gasoline prices. Prices can witness a rapid increase or decrease if something impacts crude oil supplies, refinery operations or pipeline deliveries. Even if crude prices remain steady, seasonal changes in demand can still affect prices.
