Consumers trying to squeeze some savings for Christmas shopping got a bit of help Thursday as the Public Utilities Board lowered gas prices across Newfoundland and Labrador.

The PUB brought down the ceiling on gas prices by as much as 0.8 cents per litre. The drop may be a little smaller in some pricing zones because of rounding for taxes.

The change means that the maximum price for a litre of self-serve unleaded gas on the Avalon Peninsula is now $1.279. Many retailers charge less to compete for customers.

The change does not affect remote parts of Labrador, where prices are fixed for the winter.

The PUB also lowered the ceiling on diesel prices by 0.8 cents per litre.

Home-heating fuels also became cheaper on Thursday. The PUB lowered the cost of furnace oil by 1.6 cents a litre, with stove oil dropping by 0.55 cents per litre.

The cost of propane dropped by four cents a litre.

The chart below shows how average gas prices in Newfoundland and Labrador have changed over the last 12 months, compared to both changes in the national average for gas prices and the global price of oil.