BOWSER PAIN SPIKES AS PRICES HIT FOUR-YEAR HIGH
PETROL prices have hit a four-year high, with motorists urged to shop around for the best deal ahead of the long weekend for southern states.
The cost of unleaded petrol jumped 5.1 per cent to an average 142.5 cents a litre in most capital cities during the past three months, a survey by comparison website comparethemarket.com.au found.
The increase pushes prices to their highest level since mid-2014, with some drivers paying as much as $1.60 a litre, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
ACCC chairman Rod Sims says concern about the global supply of crude oil had pushed up oil prices, with those rises being passed on at the pump.
“Unfortunately, the international factors pushing up wholesale petrol prices mean that these higher prices are being passed on to Australian motorists at the petrol bowser,” he said yesterday.
Drivers were urged to use fuel price websites and apps to shop around.
Average unleaded prices for March-June were: Sydney 140.0¢/L; Melbourne 141.1¢/L; Brisbane 144.4¢/L; Adelaide 140¢/L; Perth 140.9¢/L; Canberra 148¢/L.