The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission tells us there are a combination of factors that cause petrol prices to go up and down.
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They include changes in international benchmark prices, the rise and fall of the Aussie dollar, competition in different areas and pricing decisions by wholesalers and retailers.
With so many influences at play it’s no wonder motorists get frustrated when prices fluctuate from one week to the next – sometimes changing by as much as 10 cents per litre.
For some families that extra $5 to $10 to fill the tank can be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, especially if they are operating on a tight budget.
But what is even more frustrating is when the price of petrol in Maitland is consistently dearer than neighbouring areas and no one can tell us why.
Hunter-Central Coast NRMA director Kyle Loades predicted the average cost of unleaded fuel in the Maitland-Newcastle region would remain between 159 and 160 cents per litre this weekend.
It’s been that price here for some time and is hard to stomach when motorists could buy E10 fuel for as little as 140 cents a litre in neighbouring Cessnock in the past week.
The ACCC does not set fuel prices, instead its role is to prevent anti-competitive conduct, such as price fixing or collusion, to protect consumers.
It monitors fuel prices in all capital cities and around 180 regional locations to provide weekly information on recent unleaded petrol prices.
NRMA analysts saw no reason for the price difference between Maitland-Newcastle and other parts of the state, where cheaper fuel was available.
The NRMA will voice its concerns to the ACCC. It will be interesting to see if it can give us an answer.