(Finance) – Skyrocketing energy costs for SMEs and families. In fact, there is a significant increase in fuel expenses between January 2021 and December 2024, with a greater impact on small and medium-sized businesses than on citizens. An increase that could continue into 2025 and drag on beyond if international tensions do not reduce uncertainties and further weigh on price levels. This is what emerges from a report from the Unimpresa study centre.
For them SMEsThe annual cost of petrol went from 4,375.20 euros in 2021 to 5,281.20 euros in 2024, recording a increase of 906 euros, equal to 20.7%. The dynamics are similar for the car diesel, which rose from 6,662.50 euros to 8,292.50 euros, with a growth of 1,630 euros (+24.5%). LPG also recorded an increase, going from 1,261.00 euros to 1,475.40 euros (+17%), while the heating oil suffered a surge of 23%, with costs increasing from 11,573 euros to 14,230 euros.
For them familiesthe trend is similar, but with smaller increases. There spent on petrol it went from 1,750.08 euros to 2,112.48 euros (+20.7%), while car diesel increased from 1,332.50 euros to 1,658.50 euros (+24.5%). The cost of LPG saw a more moderate increase, from 315.25 euros to 368.85 euros (+17%), while heating oil recorded an increase of 23%, going from 925.84 euros to 1,138.40 euro.
According to Unimpresa the trend of fuel costs for families and small and medium-sized businesses In the 2024 shows interesting variations between the annual average values and those at the end of the year. As for the gas, the average annual cost for families was 2,185.65 euros, while at the end of 2024 it dropped to 2,112.48 euros, with a reduction of 73.17 euros, equal to 3.46%.
Even for them SMEs the average annual cost was higher, equal to 5,464.13 euros, compared to the 5,281.20 euros at the end of the year, with a variation of 182.93 euros, still 3.46%. The car diesel follows a similar trend, with an average cost for families of 1,718.13 euros compared to 1,658.50 euros at the end of the year, with a decrease of 59.63 euros, corresponding to 3.60%. For SMEs, the average annual cost stands at 8,590.67 euros, while the end-of-year value dropped to 8,292.50 euros, with a difference of 298.17 euros, also equal to 3.60%. For the LPG, there was a slight increase at the end of the year, with a cost for families of 368.85 euros against the 361.91 euros of the average annual value, an increase of 6.94 euros, equivalent to -1.88%. Even for them SMEs, the cost at the end of the year was slightly higher, standing at 1,475.40 euros compared to the average annual cost of 1,447.65 euros, with a difference of 27.75 euros, equal to -1.88%.
The heating oil shows a different trend, with an average annual cost for families of 1,182.47 euros, while at the end of the year the value dropped to 1,138.40 euros, with a variation of 44.07 euros, equal to 3.87%. For SMEs, the average annual cost was 14,780.83 euros compared to 14,230 euros at the end of the year, with a decrease of 550.83 euros, corresponding to a change of 3.87%. These data highlight a general trend towards reducing costs over the course of the year for most fuels, with limited but significant variations for both families and SMEs. With the prices of four years ago, those of January 2021, for families the consumption of petrol entailed an expense of 1,750.08 euros, while car diesel was worth a cost of 1,332.50 euros. The LPG, used mainly for heating or for specific vehicles, stood at 315.25 euros, and heating oil at 925.84 euros. For SMEs, the cost of petrol was equal to an outlay of 4,375.20 euros, while car diesel, often used for company fleets or commercial vehicles, generated an expense of 6,662.50 euros. There average expenditure for LPG was equal to 1,261.00 euros per year, while heating oil, used to heat company premises, weighed on the balance sheets of SMEs for 11,573.00 euros.
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