For three months, the energy tax for fuel was at the permitted minimum. That will soon be over. Is there a new price shock at the pumps? A trend can already be seen, and prices in Hamburg have also been rising significantly for days.
A good week before the end of the so-called tank discount, fuel prices have risen significantly. This can also be seen at Hamburg’s petrol stations: following a week-long downturn and short-term stagnation in mid-August, things have been on the up once more since the end of the holiday season. According to clever-tanken.de, diesel cost an average of 1.83 euros per liter in mid-August, currently it is just under 1.90 euros. On Wednesday morning it was even more than two euros in many places for the first time – the prices fluctuate significantly on a daily basis.
According to the ADAC, premium petrol of the E10 variety increased nationwide from around 1.717 to 1.730 euros from Sunday to Monday alone. The reason for the increase is probably higher demand in view of an imminent price jump in the coming week.
Tank discount: Fuel is most expensive early in the morning
According to the ADAC, there are currently larger price differences than usual depending on the provider and region. There is also a further large north-south divide: Among other things, due to the high transport costs due to the low water in the Rhine, people in the south have to pay more for petrol on average than in the North. In addition, the prices fluctuate considerably over the course of the day: fuel is usually the most expensive at 7 a.m. in the morning. It is cheapest for drivers to refuel between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
The so-called tank discount expires in the night from August 31 to September 1. This is actually a temporary reduction in energy tax to the minimum level specified by the EU. It has been valid since June 1 together with the 9-euro ticket to relieve consumers in view of the energy prices.
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Prices might rise once more significantly when the measure ends, arithmetically by around 35 cents for petrol and 17 cents for diesel. However, the ADAC does not initially expect a sudden increase, because petrol station operators also buy cheaper thanks to the discount.
It can therefore be assumed that they will fill up their fuel tanks once more before September 1st and then continue to sell petrol and diesel at a reduced price in order to gain a competitive advantage. (ncd)
