Ottawa gas prices dropping 9 cents Thursday to 163.9 cents per litre

Drivers in Ottawa will see another sharp drop at the pump Thursday, with prices expected to fall nine cents to 163.9 cents per litre, according to industry analyst Roger McKnight with En-Pro International.

The decline continues a volatile summer where gas prices have swung dramatically. In July alone, prices ranged from a high of 183.9 cents per litre to a low of 163.9 cents — a 20-cent spread within a single month. Daily changes have often ranged between two and 10 cents as global crude markets and refinery supply issues drive constant pressure on the market.

June saw prices range from 157.9 to 177.9 cents per litre, while May widened further to a 23-cent spread from 169.9 to 192.9 cents. The volatility reflects ongoing instability in global crude markets and geopolitical pressure on supply chains, with recent turmoil driving crude prices to their highest levels in more than a month.

Before Thursday's drop, the average price at Ottawa-area stations has hovered around 172.9 cents per litre in recent days, holding steady after earlier-month declines. Analysts expect continued price movement as global conditions remain unsettled.