The Decibel Groceries, airfare and EVs: the war is changing how we spend
13 snips
Apr 9, 2026 
Mariya Postelnyak, consumer affairs reporter at The Globe and Mail, explains how oil-driven cost pressures are reshaping spending. She covers soaring airfare and fuel surcharges, grocery-price effects from transport and fertilizer risks, big delivery surcharges, and why higher gas is nudging more interest in electric vehicles.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Example Of Extreme Airfare Volatility
- Airline prices have been extremely volatile day to day during the conflict.
- Example cited: Toronto–Delhi fares went from ~$1,000 to ~$3,000 then eased to ~$1,800 within a week.
Jet Fuel Follows Crude More Closely Than Gasoline
- Jet fuel tracks crude oil more directly than gasoline, so crude price swings show up faster in airline costs.
- Roughly 75% of jet fuel's cost is tied to crude versus ~50% for car gasoline, accelerating airfare volatility.
Check For Fuel Surcharges And Hidden Fare Hikes
- Watch for both explicit fuel surcharges and built-in fare increases when booking flights.
- Example: WestJet added a $60 surcharge on some packages; Air Canada added $50 passenger fees on certain vacation packages.