After a slight decrease last month (June) fuel prices have risen in July to an average of €1.33 per litre, up six cent from June, for petrol. Diesel prices also rose by nine cent per litre to an average of 124.9 cent per litre.
Petrol and diesel rose ten and nine cents per litre respectively over the last six months meaning fuel prices is never far from the minds of Irish motorists. The AA is also warning Irish drivers travelling to Europe by car to be aware of the higher fuel prices many countries have with Turkey and Greece amongst the highest. Despite the price of a barrel of oil dropping by $10 in recent months this was stifled by the Euro weakening against the US dollar.
The AA survey found that petrol and diesel prices can vary by up to ten per cent across the country and the message is to shop around and not to buy at the same station just for convenience.
"Rising fuel prices have been a feature of 2010. The consumer's best defence against rising prices is to shop around. You can save yourself money, but just as importantly it encourages competition in the market. Oil price changes may cause prices to fluctuate, but the great majority of what we pay at the pumps is tax and that fact is often overlooked. Fuel taxes consist of excise duty, an oil reserves levy, the new carbon tax and VAT. A tax-free litre of petrol or diesel would only cost 56 or 58 cents." says Director of Policy at AA Ireland, Conor Faughnan.
The AA has released the following list of fuel saving tips for this summer:
- Buy fuel in units of litres, not Euros. This makes it obvious where you get the best value.
- Shop around: don't always use the same garage out of habit.
- Drive smoothly and slowly; a harsh driving style burns more fuel.
- Load luggage on your roof rack as low as possible or use a roof box to reduce fuel consumption.
- Don't use the air conditioning all the time; this can add ten percent to your fuel usage.