Gasoline prices in Ottawa have reached a 3 year high.  Most pumps are now at almost $1.39 a litre, representing a 15% increase from last year. That's just one source of fuel that's risen in recent weeks, fuelling anger among consumers.  At the Bread By Us Bakery in Ottawa’s Hintonburg, energy prices are rising faster than their loaves of sour dough bread.  The bakery is just a few months old, already stretching a tight budget. Co-owner Jessica Carpinone says they don't have extra dough to pay for the rising cost of hydro and gas.

"I can't absorb anything beyond what I'm already absorbing so when I see new gas bills, if they're higher, I will have to find ways to make more or find creative ways to absorb that.”

Natural gas prices rose April 1st.  It'll cost $400 more a year to heat the average house.  Hydro costs will rise May 1st, tacking on another $33.96 a year.  And gasoline prices are 15% higher than a year ago today.  Businesses and homeowners are feeling the pinch as utility and gas prices rise.

"If I can't make my cost of living in line with that with my wages,” says a woman outside the bakery, “I will definitely be frustrated

“It's annoying,” says another woman, “especially when you have so many people on the Sunshine List who are making too much money and we're the ones paying for it.”

At the pump, the sudden jump is fuelling anger.

Manani Moussa drives a taxi in Ottawa, “It's very high,” he says, “So we don't make money anymore so to fill up a tank it costs at least $80 a shift. It's a 12 hour shift and it's too expensive.”

For people already on a tight budget, there's simply no more wiggle room. The Ottawa Food Bank says clients are juggling to make it month to month.

"One month they're accessing food bank to pay rent,” says Michael Howard with the Ottawa Food Bank, “and next month they pay hydro or natural gas, so these are tough choices families are having to make.”

The price at the pumps is expected to drop in the coming weeks.  But there's another increase on the way; Ontario’s minimum wage is going up to $11 an hour June 1st.  It will help low-income earners but businesses say that added cost is one more burden they must bear and probably pass on to consumers.