Rising industrial fuel costs are pushing up prices at distributors. These price increases are thus gradually reducing the impact of the excise tax reduction, effectively halving its effect. Compared to the average prices charged before the government decree was enacted, diesel fuel at the pump is down only 12.7 euro cents, compared to a 24.4 euro cent cut in excise taxes, and gasoline is down 15 euro cents.
Today in Sardinia diesel costs 1.964 euros per litre and unleaded petrol 1.701.
Looking at the prices applied on Sunday compared to Saturday, diesel saw widespread increases in the average price and petrol saw only one reduction, of 0.1 cents, in Molise.
It's clear that, once the Fuel Decree expires on April 8th, prices will rise again unless further action is taken. The ECB, which is closely monitoring the impact on inflation, has advised in recent days that measures should be limited in time and focused on their impact. An extension is possible, but the resources will need to be found, a difficult task that will fall to Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti.
The pressure also extends the discount to certain categories. Road haulage and fishing have benefited from the measures. The agricultural sector has been excluded, having initiated pressure partly due to the potential price increases for the food supply chain.
Then there's the bill decree: after the European debate on ETS, the decree will resume its process in Parliament. Currently, the measure affecting families provides a €115 bonus for those receiving the social bonus, generally the least well-off families. A measure to increase this support is not ruled out. The energy issue is obviously linked not only to price but also to the security of supply. This is also why Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will be in Algeria on Wednesday to boost gas supplies.
Meanwhile, prices at gas stations are rising across the board. The average price of diesel stands at €1.976 per liter, while gasoline rises to €1.717 per liter. On the highways, diesel prices are rising to €2.045 per liter, while unleaded fuel is rising to €1.781 per liter. In some regions, self-service diesel prices are increasingly approaching the €2 per liter mark, with the highest prices in Campania (€1.995 per liter), Calabria (€1.994 per liter), and Molise (€1.990 per liter). For gasoline, Basilicata leads the rankings for fuel prices at €1.747 per liter.
"This upward trend," states Codacons, "is eroding the excise tax discount day after day, resulting in a €5.85 savings on a full tank of diesel. At this rate, within a few days, the tax reduction, which will only last for 20 days, will be completely nullified."
"The price drop that occurred gradually and lasted three days," says the president of the National Consumers Union, Massimiliardo Dona, "is over and prices are rising again everywhere."
The government has activated controls in recent days to monitor possible price speculation, and a new assessment of the situation will be made on Monday morning, when the Rapid Alert Commission will meet again at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assess fuel price trends, inflation, and the potential repercussions for the supply of critical raw materials.
(Unioneonline/E.Fr.)
