ADAC: Petroleum companies use fuel discounts to adjust prices

Despite the introduction of the new fuel discount, according to the ADAC, the mineral oil companies raised prices as usual at lunchtime. The car club said that at 12 p.m. the companies had used the “opportunity to adjust prices as usual for significant surcharges”. However, the prices were lower compared to the period of the previous day.

On average, consumers paid between 14 and 15 cents per liter less at 12:15 p.m., depending on the type of fuel, than on Wednesday, the ADAC statement said. On average nationwide, prices for Super E10 gasoline rose from 2,052 to 2,253 euros between 11:45 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. For diesel, the price per liter rose from 2,197 to 2,393 euros.

Super E10 variety often costs less than two euros in the morning

In many places, the E10 variety was still being offered in the morning and in the morning for less than two euros, as shown by the ADAC's fuel price app. However, there were regional differences here: there were many such offers in Munich, Stuttgart and Leipzig, there were numerous in Berlin and only a few in Hamburg and Cologne. For diesel, the price per liter rose from 2,197 to 2,393 euros, reported the ADAC.

"Despite a slightly falling oil price, the ADAC sees this development as at least largely reflecting the reduction in energy tax - a large part of which is currently being passed on to consumers," the auto club reported. He called on the oil companies to promptly pass on the full energy tax cut of around 17 cents.

In some places there are long queues at gas stations

The second fuel discount this year has been valid since midnight. The reduction in energy taxes applies until December 31st and is intended to provide relief of 16.7 cents per liter of gasoline or diesel. The fuel discount will cost the state around 2.5 billion euros, half of which will be borne by the federal and state governments. There is no direct obligation for gas stations to lower prices.

Around midnight, the start of the fuel discount had already led to sharp falls in fuel prices. The nationwide average prices fell abruptly by eleven to twelve cents, according to data from the fuel price portal Tankerkönig. By mid-morning, the price difference continued to rise compared to the same times on Wednesday and was only a few cents below the tax discount amount of 16.7 cents. This apparently attracted many drivers to the pumps - shortly before the usual price jump at lunchtime, gas stations were busy in many places, and in some places there were even queues.