Fill up before petrol goes up
MOTORISTS are being urged to monitor fuel prices and fill up in coming days as the price cycle across the region approaches a low point.
Unleaded petrol was being sold at 129.5 cents a litre around Geelong yesterday, with a slight price drop predicted by the head of Geelong’s largest independent fuel chain before a rise next week.
“As a consumer I’d be keeping an eye on the prices and make sure I fill up this weekend,” Apco petrol stations director Peter Anderson said.
“Prices could get a little bit lower yet. Based on history (of previous petrol price cycles) I wouldn’t see my Geelong prices moving up until next week but it always depends on what the competition is doing.”
Petrol prices around the region yesterday ranged between 142.9 cents at BP, Moolap and 129.5 cents at stations including 7-Eleven on Latrobe Terrace, Geelong; Apco, Newcomb and Woolworths on Shannon Ave, Geelong West.
Earlier this week petrol prices between Corio and Torquay along Melbourne Rd and the Surf Coast Highway, were just 0.4 of a cent apart, with the Woolworths petrol station selling unleaded fuel for 129.9.
Mr Anderson said consumers could rely on metropolitan Melbourne prices to predict how prices in the Geelong region would move.
“Usually Melbourne moves up and Geelong follows three or four days later.”
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says prices are set to increase.
“If motorists shop around, they may find some retailers that have not yet increased prices.”
ACCC data shows that prices have been dropping in Melbourne since a high on August 2 and have risen since last week.
RACV vehicle engineering senior manager Michael Case expected petrol prices in the Geelong region to rise in coming days.
“A significant portion of the Melbourne prices have risen to the 165.9 cents per litre price point in the past 24 hours, and we would expect a similar price change in Geelong in the next few days,” Mr Case said.
“Geelong petrol prices typically follow Melbourne prices with a lag of a few days.
“Our petrol price monitoring information suggests Geelong is at the low point in the price cycle and RACV recommends motorists in the Geelong region fill up now before prices go up.”
Between October 2018 and March 2019, the average price for unleaded petrol rose from 130.5 cents to 136.5, according to the RACV. ST Margaret’s Primary School has worked out the equation for mathematical success.
Student Isaak Flannagan has come second among preps in a maths competition involving schools from across Australia and New Zealand.
He was first among preps in Australia Games.
“I was so proud seeing all of the stars that I collected,” Isaak said.
“I was keen to do well and I knew that if I worked hard I could collect stars to see my name on the leaderboard.”
Isaak said he loved when teachers gave him challenges. in the Matific
“I love making big numbers and working with patterns. Maths is fun,” he said.
St Margaret’s preps came second in class rankings across both countries, and the East Geelong school was third in Australia overall in the competition.
The games, run by online maths resource Matific, was back for its third year, running over three days last week.
Thousands of pupils from prep to grade six battled it out to showcase their maths skills using online maths resources, earning points for themselves as individuals, their classes and their schools.