Petrol and diesel prices soar in Spain as holidaymakers head home
Petrol is up 13% in Spain and diesel has jumped by a whopping 21% since the start of July
Drivers heading home after their August summer break are in for an unwelcome surprise at the pumps, with fuel now costing considerably more than it did when the holidays began.
According to data from the Ministry for Ecological Transition, covering more than 11,000 service stations across Spain, fuel prices have climbed by as much as 21% since the start of July.
Diesel reached €1.875 a litre on August 23, the most recent figure available, up 21% from €1.554 on July 1 and a record high for this time of year. Filling an average 55-litre tank now costs €103.10, almost €18 more than at the start of last month.
Petrol has followed a similar path, with 95-octane now priced at €1.735 a litre, 13% higher than on July 1 and the most expensive it's been in four years. A full tank now works out at €95.40, almost €11 more than before the holidays.
Prices started rising in the second week of July, tracking the cost of oil on international markets. Brent crude, the benchmark used in Europe, had dropped to $72 a barrel around that time, its lowest point since the Iran-Iraq conflict began in late February. A fragile truce between the US and Iran had briefly eased prices, but renewed attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, which spread to the Bab-Mandeb Strait, sent them climbing again.
Oil hit $100 a barrel by the end of July before dropping back to around $80 in early August, only to rise once more as tensions escalated. US President Donald Trump has threatened "the biggest sanctions in history" against Iran and its allies, while Iran's government has warned it won't let "a single drop of oil" pass through the Persian Gulf if the economic pressure continues.
As a result, the government's fuel discount, which replaced previous tax breaks after they expired in June, is set to rise next month. The current 10 cent per litre subsidy will increase to 20 cents for diesel from September, triggered after diesel prices rose more than 15.7% in July.
The jump in fuel costs adds to what's already been an expensive summer, with food and drink prices up 4.5% and accommodation costs up 8.1% compared to last year.
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Address
Avda de las Moreras 8 Mazarron, 30870, MurciaTel: (0034) 868 056 278
Mobile: (0034) 626 678 840
Mobile: (0034) 626 678 840
Decklid Auto Services in Mazarrón
English and Spanish spoken at your one-stop car mechanic and servicing centre in the Mazarrón area
Decklid Auto Services is a fully licensed and legal British-run garage based in Mazarrón, Murcia in southern Spain, run by David since he and his family came to Spain in 2005.
Since then they have constantly worked hard to continue improving the workshop and to provide more and more services, using the experience David gained while working for three years in a Spanish garage before setting up on his own. His goal now is to provide the best possible service to his British, Spanish and European clients, and recent reviews in the local media in Murcia agree that David at Decklid Auto Services is the one to visit with all your vehicle needs in the area of Mazarrón.
David speaks both English and Spanish to help provide the best service possible.
Among the services offered are regular servicing, general maintenance and repairs (including cam belts, clutches and engine repairs), ITV pre-checks and full ITV packages, avoiding the need for owners to take their vehicles to the testing centre.
Computer diagnosis is used whenever appropriate, especially for electrical fault finding and air conditioning maintenance and repairs, and of course full tyre replacement and wheel alignment are on the menu as well!
Decklid can also re-register right-hand drive cars in Spain and change the number plates on import.
Opening hours: weekdays 9.00 to 18.00. Closed at weekends!
- Telephone: (0034) 868 056 278
- Mobile: (0034) 626 678 840
- Email: info@decklidautos.com
- Website: www.decklidautos.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/david.decklid
