The thinning observed since the beginning of the year is confirmed. For the second week in a row, average fuel prices observed at petrol stations have fallen slightly, according to data from the Ministry of Energy Transition published on Monday.
In detail, a litre of diesel, the most consumed fuel in the country, averaged €1.72 per litre, a drop of 1 cent compared to the previous week. The same reduction applies to the SP95-E10, which is compatible with almost the entire petrol fleet on the road, which costs an average of 1.76 euros per litre per week.
No flight to fear
This stability of prices at the pump, similar to those observed at the end of July 2023, is consistent with the evolution of the barrel of crude oil according to Olivier Gantois, president of UFIP Energies et Mobilités, a professional organization for the energy and oil industries. "For more than a year, crude oil has been hovering between $75 and $85 a barrel. One would have thought that the attacks in the Middle East would have made markets nervous, but there was no surge. ».
And there is every reason to believe that fuel prices will not soar in the coming months. "Our forecast for 2024 brings the average price of a barrel to $75, with possible fluctuations between $70 and $85," said Philippe Chalmin, an economist specialising in commodities who founded the research company CyclOpe. We shouldn't be screaming too much in the coming weeks about prices at the pump, unless there are escalating tensions with Iran or a possible fall in the euro against the dollar. »
This optimism is shared by Olivier Gantois. "I don't see any proven risk of runaway prices, nor any reason for a significant decline," he said. Under these conditions, the fuel allowance of €100 paid to low-income workers should not be used. It is envisaged for pump prices of around €1.95 per litre.