Diesel drivers were particularly affected by the high fuel prices: although the purchase prices for cars with diesel engines are higher than for petrol engines, diesel fuel was more expensive than petrol and the price advantage was lost. Surprisingly, diesel is suddenly at least a little cheaper again.
The prices for diesel have fallen significantly since the beginning of the year, while those for petrol have remained relatively constant, reports the ÖAMTC. As a result of this development, diesel costs less than petrol on average these days. According to reports to the official fuel price calculator, a liter of diesel cost an average of EUR 1.598 on Tuesday, and a cent less for petrol at EUR 1.608 – after diesel had been consistently more expensive for almost nine months. Last November, the price was over two euros per liter of diesel (and thus a difference of 30 cents compared to petrol). Still more expensive than beforeIn March 2023, the prices at Austrian petrol pumps averaged 1.624 euros per liter of diesel and 1.576 euros per liter of petrol. This means that diesel costs around 23 cents less and petrol around 19 cents less than in March 2022 – which, according to an analysis by the ÖAMTC transport management experts, is dampening the general rate of inflation. Without the additional CO2 pricing – which has been in effect since October 2022 and was increased at the turn of the year – it would even be around 33 or 27 cents less. However, this positive development should not hide the fact that motorists still have to dig deeper into their pockets than before the outbreak of war in Ukraine. The recent significant rise in oil prices has already led to price increases at the petrol pumps: compared to Tuesday of the previous week you currently pay around four cents more for a liter of petrol and around one cent more for diesel. After the prices for petrol were around 1.60 euros this year with similar oil prices, further price increases would not be justified from the ÖAMTC’s point of view. If you look at the oil prices, the petrol prices should even be around ten cents cheaper. After all, the oil prices in January 2022 were at a similar level and the fuel prices – without additional CO2 pricing of around ten cents in total – were around 1.40 to 1.45 euros per liter.
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