Fuels: the price of diesel is rising again, a liter of gasoline is approaching two euros

The outbreak is not over. Fuel prices have continued to rise in recent days, with diesel remaining above two euros per liter and gasoline approaching this threshold.

Diesel is bought at 2.07 euros per liter in France, an average stopped at 11 a.m. this Tuesday at some 9,500 service stations, an increase of 1% compared to Monday and a jump of more than 20% (35 cents per liter) since the start of the war in the Middle East on February 28. It had exceeded the symbolic threshold of two euros per liter on March 9, a first since 2022, according to these figures transmitted to the government by the stations.

For its part, SP95-E10, the gasoline most consumed by the French, is 1.91 euros per liter on average, at some 7,500 stations, an increase of 1% since Monday and 11% (19 cents per liter) since the start of the conflict. The SP98 is close to two euros per liter, at 1.99 euros, up 0.5% since Monday and 9% (16 cents) since the beginning of March.

The rebound after the lull

After a slight lull, crude oil prices experienced a new rebound on Tuesday, against a backdrop of Iranian attacks against strategic energy infrastructure in the Middle East.

Around 12:15 p.m. Paris time, the price of a barrel of Brent from the North Sea increased by, to 103.5 dollars, as did American WTI (+ 2.96% to 96.27 dollars).

Michel-Édouard Leclerc declared last week that fuel prices at the pump were going to experience “around 30 cents per liter” in the short term, while warning that prices were going to “yo-yo” at points of sale depending on the geopolitical situation.

A meeting between the government and distributors last Thursday did not result in any decision on possible price controls. The boss of the Mousquetaires/Intermarché Group, Thierry Cotillard, proposed on Monday that the State “reduce its margin”, particularly on the VAT collected, to contain the increase.