|  ‘Buy now’ to avoid sky-high prices on airfare The soaring cost of oil is soon going to affect prices beyond the pumps, according to travel experts. Jet fuel is a major cost input for airlines, so vacationers might soon see the impact of rising oil prices on their plane tickets. "No question, when oil goes up, airline prices go up — which affects travel," Richard Vanderlubbe, president of TripCentral.ca, said in an interview this week. Experts who spoke to Global News had a number of tips for reducing the costs of a trip this year, but they agreed that now is the time to buy to lock in prices before the impact of rising gas prices hits airlines’ bottom lines. "Often, you can overthink this by trying to play games with waiting and seeing what would happen," Vanderlubbe said. "That's probably not a good idea right now." Global News reporter Irelyne Lavery has more here about how to factor the rising cost of gas into your travel plans in 2022.  Ukraine war causing economic worries A new poll suggests that while Canadians are supportive of actions to support Ukrainian resistance against Russia, the economic fallout of the war is causing worries at home. Oil and gas is one arena where these competing concerns are coming to a head. While the Ipsos poll commissioned for Global News found that eight in 10 Canadians support further sanctions on Russia, including on its oil and gas exports, fewer than half said they’d be willing to pay more at the pump in support of the war effort. The poll found 85 per cent of Canadians are concerned about how the war in Ukraine will impact the economy at home. About two-thirds said they are worried about the impact on themselves and their own family. Sean Simpson, senior vice-president of Ipsos Public Affairs, said the concern over higher prices is especially high among younger generations, but said that’s understandable given surging costs following two rough economic years in the COVID-19 pandemic. "It's not selfishness," he told Global News. "Many of them are already struggling to make ends meet. They're already experiencing inflation. And now we're asking them to pay more for gas, to pay more for other goods when they feel like they've already sacrificed over the last two years." Read more from reporter Sean Boynton about how Canadians feel about the war and its ripple effects on the economy.  Employers up their game in talent crunch The latest jobs figures show just how tight Canada’s labour market is and drive home how flexible employers will have to be to win top talent. Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey shows the country added 337,000 jobs in February, dropping the unemployment rate to 5.5 per cent — the first time that number returned to pre-pandemic levels. Low unemployment and a high number of vacancies are giving job hunters more choice in where they settle. That's also ramping up competition between prospective employers and forcing hiring managers to adopt new strategies to stand out in a tight labour market. Among employers adapting their hiring processes is FoodShare Toronto, which recently started paying applicants $75 per interview, even if they don’t end up getting the job. Executive director Paul Taylor said the pandemic has been among the recent shifts in society that have revealed a need to rebalance the interview process in favour of the candidates. "Maybe it's the pandemic. Maybe it's other shifting times. But I think people are really waking up to some of those inequities that have been allowed to fester for far too long and are pushing back,” he told Global News. Read more about how the demand for hybrid work and other benefits is changing the landscape for job seekers in Canada. ________________________ – THE QUESTION – “I’m retired and looking to get a new car. On average, I now put on about 5,000 to 6,000 kilometres per year. Is it worth buying a new vehicle or am I better off leasing?” — A Money123 reader “Purchasing a new vehicle in today’s market certainly makes sense. The severe industry-wide car shortage has caused used car prices to increase to the point where the savings on lightly used cars are minimal to non-existent. As for whether to finance or lease a new car, this would depend on your priorities. If you are a short-term purchaser and like the idea of switching into a new car after three or four years then leasing makes sense. You do not need to be concerned about vehicle depreciation or long-term repair expenses when leasing. If you are a long-term purchaser, however, then financing makes more sense. Financing is best for those who prefer to maximize the value out of a car and keep it as long as possible. You also have more flexibility with financing with the ability to trade the car or sell it at any point.“ -Shari Prymak, senior consultant, Car Help Canada
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