in the absence of government rebates, prices rise sharply

We will have to get used to relatively low fuel prices. The cost of gasoline rose sharply in France last week, according to figures published Monday, January 9 by the government, after the end of the general rebate replaced by a “fuel allowance” for the most modest workers using their vehicle at professional purposes.

In French service stations, diesel sold at an average price of 1.8994 euros per liter, or 13.29 cents more than the previous week, according to figures from the Ministry of Energy Transition stopped Friday and published Monday . Unleaded 95 gasoline increased by 17.28 cents, displayed at the pump at 1.8516 euros per liter on average, and unleaded 95-E10 was up by 19.23 cents, sold at a national average price of 1.8346 euro per litre.

Eight billion euros in 2022

The state had extended its rebate of 30 cents per liter at the pump until mid-November 2022, before it drops to 10 cents until the end of the year. In 2022, the general rebate cost the State 8 billion euros, the equivalent of the budget of the Ministry of Justice.

Read the column: Article reserved for our subscribers Aid to the pump: “Since the re-election of Emmanuel Macron, the State has multiplied anachronistic measures”

The 1^is January, this aid for everyone was replaced by an allowance of 100 euros reserved for the 10 million households with a reference tax income of less than 14,700 euros in 2021. The aid is paid in one go, for 2023, for those who use their vehicle to go to work. A modest couple who works and owns two vehicles can benefit from two grants, i.e. 200 euros. The aid applies to any type of vehicle, including two-wheelers, and the request must be made on the Impots.gouv.fr website between January 16 and February 28. It represents an envelope of around 1 billion euros, said the Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne.

Despite government aid, French households lost an average of 720 euros between January 2021 and June 2022 due to rising energy prices (fuel, heating oil, gas and electricity), according to an Insee study dated of December. All households were affected, but more those living in a city of less than 20,000 inhabitants, because they consume more fuel, according to INSEE. The poorest 30% lost an average of 300 euros.

Read also: Electricity, gas, fuel: what changes in aid in January

The World with AFP