FIRST the banks tried to short-change us and now Victoria's petrol stations will play Scrooge on Christmas Day with fuel expected to leap by 14c a litre to $1.45. Holiday road trips will cost families a whole lot more with the two big supermarket chains blamed for pumping up the price to compensate for the huge fuel discounts - up to 8c they are offering.
Motorists are being urged to fill up on Friday and Saturday when the price will average about $1.31 before a spike that is expected to last several days.
Pump prices averaged $1.37 yesterday, peaking at $1.51 in some areas.
An industry source said fuel prices should only be 3c more than the wholesale price, which sits at $1.27.
"They make it look like you are getting a good deal, but in reality you are not and just paying what the price should be," the insider said.
"There has been an artificial price because of the high discounts offered, and that's not fair."
The RACV's Michael Case said motorists were paying about 5c more for petrol compared with last year.
"The difference with filling up on Christmas Eve compared to Christmas Day or Boxing Day could be 14c," Mr Case said.
"A lot of people are on the move (over Christmas) where they use a lot of fuel so it can get quite expensive."
Mr Case said to avoid pain at the pump, motorists should monitor the fuel cycle and figure out if so-called discounts are actually a bargain.
Coles Express general manager Peter Short denied ripping off drivers.
He said an 8c discount will end on December 31.
"Our double discount fuel promotion is giving customers extra value at Christmas and helping drive their dollars further when household budgets are stretched even more than usual," Mr Short said.
Experts say the big supermarket chains have worked the discounts into their fuel prices.
But the ACCC released a report early this month that cleared the local industry of price gouging and warned the days of cheap fuel were over.
heraldsun.com.au 22 Dec 2011
The story is the same every year, and the consumers have to take it on the chin, with no intervention from the spineless ACCC.
Another rort supported by the government.
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