PRICE OF PETROL. The price of gasoline rose sharply at the start of 2023 but finally showed a small drop in the first week of February according to the latest data, for both gasoline and diesel.
[Mis à jour le 8 février 2023 à 09h26] Finally a (little) lull at the pump? After a spectacular increase in fuel prices since January 1, 2023, these show a slight drop in the first week of February, according to figures recorded on February 6, 2023 by the Ministry of Ecological Transition. With an average price of 1.8896 euro for a liter of unleaded 95 and 1.8873 euro for a liter of diesel, it is on average 1.1 cents less on gasoline and no less than 5.6 cents less on diesel compared to the previous week.
This slight decrease does not erase far from it the significant increase observed since the beginning of the year. With the end of rebates on gasoline (reduction at TotalEnergies but also a boost from the government with a in the fall and then by 10 cents until December 31, 2022), the prices of fuels, diesel and gasoline, have again soared to the point of approaching the fateful bar of 2 euros per liter.
Will it last? Everything will obviously depend on the price of crude oil on world markets, an index which has risen massively in 2022 in the wake of the outbreak of war in Ukraine, economic and boycott measures taken against Russia and due to strong demand linked to the post-Covid 19 recovery. The threshold of the Brent index had thus easily crossed the 100 dollar mark in the spring of 2022 before stabilizing around 80 dollars. The only glimmer of hope, a new aid of 100 euros is put in place in 2023, but subject to income conditions. This aid concerns low-income households. According to the government, 10 million French people are concerned but they only have until February 28 to submit their application for aid.
On Monday February 6, 2023, the average prices for liters of fuel noted and noted by the Ministry of Ecological Transition were 1.88973 for diesel. The liter of unleaded 95 E10 was displayed on average at 1.8896 euros. In one month, prices have risen on average in France by more than 12 cents on diesel (compared to the first statement of the year 2023, transmitted on January 3) and by 24 cents on the liter of unleaded 95
The last peak was observed in mid-November during the reduction of government aid with an average price of 1.9059 for diesel and 1.7514 for unleaded 95 E10. The reason for the price hike? The international context, especially with the sanctions taken against Russia following the start of the war in Ukraine. The European Union has opted for a gradual boycott of Russian oil, which leads to an increase in demand for oil from other regions, in particular the Arabian Peninsula, and ultimately in prices. Oil prices regularly crossed the 100 dollar per barrel mark in March 2022 before stabilizing around 80 euros per barrel.
In addition to moderating your travels, practicing carpooling if you can, the best thing is still to compare the prices charged in the service stations around your home. Tedious? Not that much since many sites offer this service on the internet. You can also refer to the official government website, combustible.gouv.fr, which offers to find the prices that must be indicated to the State by the managers of service stations.
The Essence&Co app also offers this service via collaborative data provided by Internet users. You can find the search engine below. It is possible to compare fuel prices at service stations near you. Available on Android or iPhone, it offers daily fuel prices based on user feedback to indicate current prices.
The government websiteprice.fuel.gouv.fr” also offers you price statements by department and type of fuel (Be careful to clearly differentiate lead-free 95, 98 or E10). Price statements are updated weekly. Something to help you find the cheapest service station(s) through an interactive map listing the service stations near you.
As you have noticed, there are sometimes sometimes substantial price differences depending on the service station: between distributor brands (supermarkets in particular) and oil group stations, the difference can sometimes seem significant. It is explained by various parameters including the brand image, but also the famous additives. You may know them by their trade name. Excellium fuel, for example in the Total network, contains many additives. Incorporated into the fuel, they are used to improve its quality and therefore its performance. Also intended to protect the engine or the tank, they also act on the higher prices, which occasionally gives rise to controversy over their usefulness. Marketing argument used to justify these prices or real benefit for the car, the debate is lively.
What is the share of taxes in the price of gasoline at the pump? According to Total, taxes represent “the most important part of the price of fuel”. In 2018, according to the company, the taxes collected by the State represented for example “63% of the price of Unleaded 95-E10 and 60% of that of diesel”. Gasoline tax is in fact divided into two different taxes: VAT, and the domestic consumption tax on energy products (TICPE). There is also the general tax on polluting activities (TGAP). The TICPE is also higher on gasoline than on diesel. Depending on gasoline prices, the TICPE represents nearly 70 cents on gasoline, 60 cents on the price of a liter of diesel.