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Regional Retailers Fail To Pass On Fuel Savings

Regional fuel retailers have failed to pass on a 10cpl drop in crude oil prices, and it’s got the attention of regional motorists who’ve voiced their concerns about the gap between city and country fuel prices.

car-keysRegional fuel retailers have failed to pass on a 10cpl drop in crude oil prices, and it’s got the attention of regional motorists who’ve voiced their concerns about the gap between city and country fuel prices.

RAA Senior Analyst Chris West said October’s Regional Fuel Star Ratings found many country towns are dragging their feet, holding fuel prices high for too long.

“Many country motorists have been contacting RAA to raise their concerns about the great fuel price divide between city and country,” said Mr West.

“We’re seeing 18-month low prices in Adelaide at $1.29/L, while in the country they are being charged $1.40-$1.60/L.

“If regional fuel retailers had passed on the crude oil drop as has happened in Adelaide, country motorists in most major towns would be seeing ULP prices in the high $1.30 range.”

Most towns failed to reach a ‘Fair’ rating of 3 or higher in October, with Port Augusta the only exception.

“Thanks to its petrol prices at $1.40/L, Port Augusta has again topped the charts with a rating of 3.8 out of 5,” said Mr West.

“Their petrol prices are on par with Adelaide, and in fact they were the second lowest prices in Australia beating Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane in October.

“All country townships are at risk of sliding down the ratings list if they fail to pass on the full 10cpl drop in crude oil price in the coming weeks.

“The towns of greatest concern are Mount Gambier, Whyalla, Port Lincoln, Broken Hill and Coober Pedy who were rated either ‘Poor’ or ‘Very Poor’ as their fuel margins were inflated by up to 50 per cent by late October.”

RAA encourages regional motorists to always buy at the lowest price.

“Even if the price difference is only half a cent, motorists should reward the lowest price or else retailers have little incentive to drop their price,” said Mr West.

“Country retailers will only drop their price if they see they’re losing customers to another retailer.”

To find out where the best priced fuel in your part of South Australia is visit www.raa.com.au/regionalfuel

 

REGIONAL FUEL STAR RATINGS – OCTOBER

Rank

 Township

Rating

Rank

 Township

Rating

1

 Pt Augusta

3.8

10

 Loxton

2.3

2

 Tailem Bend

2.7

11

 Ceduna

2.2

3

 Keith

2.6

12

 Bordertown

2.2

4

 Clare

2.6

13

 Murray Bridge

2.0

5

 Victor Harbor

2.6

14

 Mt Gambier

1.9

6

 Pt Pirie

2.5

15

 Whyalla

1.8

7

 Kadina

2.5

16

 Pt Lincoln

1.4

8

 Renmark

2.3

17

 Broken Hill (NSW)

0.9

9

 Naracoorte

2.3

18

 Coober Pedy

0.7

 

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