A short-lived lull. Fuel prices posted last week at service stations were up again, after falling the previous week for the first time since the start of the year. According to data published by the government on Monday, diesel – which represents three quarters of the volumes of fuel sold in France – sold on average last week at 2.12 euros per liter, against 1.97 euros seven days earlier. early, an increase of 7%. As for the SP95-E10, it cost an average of 1.98 euros per litre, whereas it was displayed the previous week at 1.93 euros (+ 2%).
Fuels were already expensive before the start of the conflict in Ukraine, in the wake of the price of oil which has continued to climb with the post-Covid global economic recovery. But the war started by Russia, one of the main exporters of hydrocarbons, has caused such panic in the markets that prices at the pump have reached staggering levels. In mid-March, for the first time in history, they exceeded the symbolic mark of two euros per liter on average.
A discount of 18 cents from April 1
Faced with the situation and in order to preserve the purchasing power of motorists a few days before the first round of the presidential election, the government has implemented a boost, in the form of a discount of up to 18 cents per liter of fuel purchased from April 1 until the end of July. The price displayed at the pump will include the rebate. The distributors benefit themselves upstream from the discount, at the level of the purchasing groups, since this Sunday. Objective: to allow the device to be fluid when it comes into force this Friday. But it is possible that some stations, which have been filling their tanks since this Sunday, will make motorists take advantage of the discount before April 1.
Three billion euros of credits will be devoted to this measure which, after diesel and gasoline, has been extended to LPG and LNG. In addition, some oil companies have promised a gesture on their side. Like Total, which will apply a reduction of 10 cents in all its stations from the weekend of April 2 and 3. As for large retailers, they are increasing their commercial operations with their customers.