TORONTO, May 6, 2026 – Gas prices across the Greater Toronto Area were expected to rise by 10 cents per litre on May 6, with most stations reaching about 195.9 cents per litre, putting prices close to CAD $2 a litre and at their highest level since 2022. For office workers who rely on a car for commuting, food delivery and rideshare drivers, small business operators, and families who regularly drive children or seniors, keeping the same driving and order-taking patterns this week could lead to noticeably higher fuel spending and reduced net income for some self-employed drivers.
This increase is different from a short-term “fill up tonight or not” reminder. Once gas moves close to CAD $2 per litre, the effect is no longer just a few extra dollars on one fill-up, but the continuing cost of daily commuting, delivery work, and family transportation. For residents in places such as Scarborough, Markham, Mississauga, and Brampton who need to drive into Toronto for work, higher gas prices can quickly become part of the weekly household budget. That said, CityNews also notes price forecasts can shift during the day, and its live gas page later showed a projected drop for May 7, highlighting how volatile the market remains.
The effect is even more direct for delivery drivers. Food delivery, rideshare, and small-scale courier income is often calculated by trip, distance, and time, but fuel, parking, unpaid return trips, and waiting time are usually paid by the driver. As fuel prices rise, drivers who continue accepting long-distance trips, slow orders, or routes with empty return travel may find that while gross earnings look unchanged, actual take-home income falls. Keeping fuel receipts, digital records, and mileage logs can also help with later tax reporting and cost tracking.
For small businesses, higher gas prices can also affect deliveries, supply runs, and mobile service calls. Restaurants, convenience stores, repair services, and small e-commerce operators that depend on their own vehicles may need to reassess delivery frequency, service radius, and purchasing schedules. If routes and timing are not adjusted early, rising fuel costs can build into a more noticeable business expense within a week.
For ordinary households, the most easily overlooked issue is fragmented travel. Driving separately for school pickup, groceries, doctor visits, work, and errands may not seem costly trip by trip, but over the course of a week, both fuel and parking costs can rise. Instead of driving farther just to save a few cents at a cheaper station, a more practical approach may be to combine errands in the same area, reduce empty return trips, and check traffic beforehand to avoid fuel wasted in congestion.
It is important to note that gas price forecasts may still shift with wholesale prices and market conditions. A single-day increase does not necessarily mean prices will continue rising, and forecasts can be revised again. Residents may be better served by making decisions based on their own driving frequency, tank size, and plans for the week, rather than reacting only to one day’s movement.
For many delivery drivers and commuting families, the more realistic issue is that they may not be able to reduce driving immediately even after prices rise, because work, school pickup, deliveries, and appointments still need to continue. The more practical adjustments may instead involve route planning, timing, and job selection. Delivery drivers may want to track hourly net income more closely, commuters may consider switching to TTC, GO Transit, or carpooling on some days, and families may want to group shopping, pickups, and appointments into the same route when possible.
For residents who still need to drive frequently this week, it may help to check real-time gas prices and traffic conditions before going out, to avoid extra fuel use caused by last-minute detours. Self-employed drivers and small business owners may also want to keep expense records and recalculate weekly net income and delivery costs. For families with fixed transportation needs, planning routes and timing in advance may reduce some of the continued pressure from gas prices nearing CAD $2 per litre. (LJI by Yuanyuan)
