Pumped up price
Holiday petrol costs hit the roof
PETROL prices are soaring across the Gold Coast with fuel not expected to drop below $1.50 per litre until after Christmas.
Yesterday morning drivers filled up for $1.30, but by the evening many stations around the city were already charging $1.49.
FUELtrac director Geoff Trotter said the price hike was due to an increase in the cost of oil and Christmas holidays.
“The underlying reason it’s risen is because the price of crude oil has increased by 6c per barrel,” Mr Trotter said.
“It is a signifcant increase from oil companies since October and is now costing retailers more than $US60 per barrel.
“It reflects the price rise but drivers also need to understand that weekends and holiday periods are the biggest money making periods for retailers.”
According to Mr Trotter retailers including large supermarket chains such as Woolworths and Coles were cashing in but cheaper fuel was still available.
If you’re looking for bang for your buck, Mr Trotter said 7-Eleven stores would have the cheapest fuel with an average of $125.9.
“All the other fuel stations will follow in suit of each other but my sugges- tion would be to fuel up now before the prices increase,” he said.
Mr Trotter said the increasing cost was part of a price fuel pattern and would dip after December.
RACQ spokesman Renee Smith said with a price rise expected before Christmas, drivers needed to take advantage of low prices where they could still find them.
“Motorists across the south east need to fuel the tank now before it’s too late. We don’t know how long this cheap phase will last,” Ms Smith said.
“If you hold off filling up you’ll be disappointed. It’s likely servos will commence a price hike in the lead up to Christmas.”
“On the Gold Coast, the average ULP price is slightly higher, but drivers should still take advantage of cheap petrol and fill up.”
But petrol isn’t the only thing that will rise over Christmas. Prawns, hotels and drinks will all contribute to an expensive Christmas season.
The Bulletin reported last month that seafood lovers will have to fork out $40 per kilogram for large king prawns over the fetsive season – a $5 increase from what they usually cost during the Christmas peak.