While food prices remain at high levels, fuel prices seem to be on a downward slope in recent weeks, giving air to household budgets. And this trend should continue, according to Agnès Pannier-Runacher. "The objective today is to return to a normal level of fuel prices. We are getting there, we are returning to a price that corresponds to that before the war in Ukraine, "said the Minister of Energy Transition on France 2 this Friday morning.
The member of the government reiterated her request to manufacturers and distributors to reduce their tariffs, in view of the decline in oil prices on the markets. "I expect manufacturers and professionals to lower their price, that's what is happening. Manufacturers and distributors have told us that these prices will continue to fall in the coming days," she said.
For the past month, pump prices for all fuels have actually been trending downwards, according to data from the Ministry of Energy Transition. The liter of diesel lost about 14 cents, while gasoline saw its price cut by 8 to 10 cents depending on the type (SP95, SP95-E10, SP98). Diesel has even already returned to its pre-war level in Ukraine, when gasoline is still about 8 cents above its February 2022 tariff.
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No new rebate
Agnès Pannier-Runacher also responded to Michel-Edouard Leclerc, who had Wednesday deemed "inflated" that the government asks distributors to reduce their prices at the pump, while a "large supplier" like the oil group TotalEnergies which reaps "billions in profits", is not "required to lower its prices". This position was "addressed to all actors in the sector. Whether it is mass distribution or Total and Esso, "defended the minister, also welcoming the effect of her speech. "Fuel prices have dropped by 4 cents since I took this position," she said.
Asked about possible new discounts at the pump, Agnès Pannier-Runacher totally ruled out this track. "This is not the objective," she replied, stressing that she had already made an effort at the beginning of the year with the fuel allowance of 100 euros. Pressed by the executive, the TotalEnergies group had announced in February a cap on fuel prices at 1.99 euros per liter until the end of the year.
