A year ago, filling up a tank of diesel (50 liters) in Sardinia cost €81.90, now it costs €105.35: that's €23.45 more. Gasoline has risen by €14.70, from €85.50 to €100.20. The Gulf War has caused fuel prices to skyrocket, and the benefits of excise duty cuts (the latest one enacted by the government is €17 cents, applies only to diesel, and expires next Tuesday) have been quickly swallowed up by the ongoing increases. The Region's budget law has allocated €50 million to support businesses, agriculture, and transportation. Reformists councilor Aldo Salaris voted against: "There are significant resources and interventions that could be useful, but a common thread is missing. It's a combination of stopgap measures, spot measures, and provisions that are often disconnected."

Pay and suffer

The island isn't the only one paying and suffering . On August 15th, around 25 million people in Italy filled up their cars to reach their holiday destinations: the cost, according to Codacons, was 370 million euros more than in August 2025. In Cagliari, it was possible to find a few stations where you could fill up diesel for less than 2 euros a liter (1.99): prices unthinkable along the coast or on the most popular holiday routes. And once the holidays are over, the damage won't end: according to the Cgia of Mestre, with the same consumption, Italy will spend 13.6 billion more on fuel this year than last year.