Brisbane petrol prices

[#Metro]

Prepare for the tidal wave of complaints and rants about subsidising petrol and how much of a gouge petrol is...

[Fares_Fair]

... we need to rename this post ! 

Regards,
Fares_Fair

[Stillwater]

This may help frame the debate:

http://www.getup.org.au/files/campaigns/petrol_price_fact_sheet.pdf

[somebody]

The 14c a litre ripoff for premium 98 octane unleaded is gouging, but that's the price you pay for performance.

I'm afraid that you have contradicted yourself in a single sentence there.

[rob2144]

Nambour 6/3:

Caltex/WOW ULP 91 149.9 Diesel 139.9
Mobil & Matilda ULP 91 134.9 Diesel 138.9
BP E10 & Diesel 149.9
Shell/Coles E10 142.9 Diesel 146.9

[Mozz]

The 14c a litre ripoff for premium 98 octane unleaded is gouging, but that's the price you pay for performance.

I'm afraid that you have contradicted yourself in a single sentence there.

How's that? I have a high performance 2006 model Holden V8 which has been modified to produce around 30 rear wheel kw more than standard (or producing around 300 flywheel kw) and travels down the 1/4 mile at willowbank at around 13.3seconds - it has been software tuned to run optimally on 98+ octane (but can revert to standard unleaded as a failsafe). Thus I run the car on BP ultimate, or shell V power or, vortex 98.

[somebody]

Because you called it a "gouge" and then said "that's the price you pay for performance".

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Pump pain: petrol prices hit 149.9

[ozbob]

Courier Mail --> Bowser price shock for consumers as petrol nears $1.50 a litre in Brisbane

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Fuel costs hit family budgets

Fuel costs hit family budgets

    * by Robyn Ironside
    * From: The Courier-Mail
    * March 22, 2011 12:00AM

SOARING petrol prices have added $25 to the average household's monthly fuel bill since December.

Economic analysts CommSec estimate most Australian households now need to find $200 a month to keep the car running as a result of escalating petrol prices.

In just four months, national average prices have jumped from 125 cents a litre to 143.2 cents a litre for standard unleaded, adding about $11.50 to the cost of filling a 63-litre fuel tank.

In the same period, Brisbane's petrol prices have climbed from 129.1 cents to an average of 145.9 cents a litre last week, the highest in almost 2½ years.

Commsec senior economist Savanth Sebastian said the biggest price hikes had occurred in the last five weeks putting significant pressure on the family budget.

"On its own it doesn't make that much of a difference, but when you add the petrol price rises to multiple (bank) rate hikes and increases in electricity, gas and water it does tend to paint a picture of a household budget that continues to see rises in terms of expenditure," Mr Sebastian said.

He said there was already evidence of slow-downs in "non-grocery related spending".

"Cafes, restaurants, jewellery, clothing it's all really come off the boil in the last couple of months, entertainment as well," Mr Sebastian said.

"It paints a picture of an economy that's lost momentum."

As petrol prices hovered around $1.50 a litre in Brisbane yesterday, Mr Sebastian said there was still more bowser pain to come.

"In the past week, the Singapore unleaded price has jumped by a further $2 a barrel, (and) that will need to filter through to Australia," he said.

"We're anticipating a rise of another two cents a litre in the next fortnight, so not the hefty gains we've seen over the last couple of weeks."

Apart from household budgets, retailers would suffer the most from the price hikes because of a fall in demand, according to Mr Sebastian.

"The retail sector will need to continue discounting to try to attract customers in the next couple of months," he said.

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times click here!

Crisis hits hip pocket

Crisis hits hip pocket

Andrew Korner | 23rd March 2011

A TIME of violent upheaval in northern Africa and the Middle East is burning holes in the pockets of Ipswich motorists in the lead-up to Easter holidays.

Petrol prices are hovering just below the $1.50 a litre mark in Ipswich, slightly above the national average of $1.43, with speculation prices could rise to their highest level since the global financial crisis of 2008.

Economic analyst Commsec's estimate that the average motorist was spending $200 a month on fuel seems to be quite conservative once you talk to Ipswich motorists.

Walloon pensioner Gary Acworth – whose diesel van is relatively frugal in the fuel stakes – spends about $240 a month.

"I'm a pensioner so any rise in diesel costs certainly is an added strain on the budget," he said.

"Walloon is a bit out of town so you need the car."

With a fuel bill that often reaches $1500 a week, Pine Mountain business owner Andrew Morrell said it was often cheaper for him to fly to interstate destinations.

Ironically, his diesel exhaust fluid company works to reduce the fuel consumption and emissions generated by companies who rely on big diesel engines.

"Any jump in diesel prices is also going to have an effect on our freight costs, which then gets passed onto our customers," Mr Morrell said.

Experts are blaming the enforcement of the no fly zone over Libya for the increase, noting a $5 US Dollar increase in the price of Tapis Crude Oil to US $121.11 per barrel.

Libya only produces about 2% of the world's oil, however fears that conflict could spread across the Middle East to some of the top oil producers have commentators uncertain about the future.

RACQ executive manager for public policy, Michael Roth urged motorists to keep an eye on the weekly price cycle and buy fuel from the service stations with the lowest price to encourage competition.

Petrol v diesel

According to RACQ, Caltex Redbank was offering one of the best prices for unleaded yesterday, at 143.5 cents per litre, however the same service station was selling diesel for 157.9 cents per litre – eight cents more than all other retailers in the area.

[Jonno]

I just love the RACQ's suggestion of wait to the lowest part if the week and then buy barrells of the stuff.

[ozbob]

From the Gympie Times click here!

Bowser blues as fuel set for $2/litre

Bowser blues as fuel set for $2/litre

1st April 2011

MOTORISTS could soon be paying $2 a litre for fuel, a peak fuel industry body has warned.

In the past week the cost of premium hit $1.64 in some parts of Queensland, with NSW prices hovering at the $1.60 mark.

Unrest in overseas oil markets combined with government inaction on fuel discounting by supermarket chains has created an environment where $2 a litre was only a matter of time, Service Station Association chief executive Ron Bowden said yesterday.

"In the last couple of days, our market (for crude) – which is the Singapore market – has accelerated quite markedly," he said.

"It ($2 a litre for unleaded) is on the horizon."

As regional prices for unleaded hovered between $1.40 and $1.50 a litre this week, the cost of filling the average family car, with its 60-litre tank, rose to about $96.

"Woolworths and Coles are slowly dismantling (the competition) and the government is doing nothing to stop them," Mr Bowden said.

He said the two supermarket chains operated 15-16% of the service stations but sold 50% of petrol volume in Australia.

A Coles spokesman rejected allegations the "shopper docket" discount system contributed to price rises on the Fraser Coast.

"The reality is we don't set the fuel price, we respond to changes in the market," he said.

"We will meet whatever the price is in whatever market we are operating in."

[ozbob]

Courier Mail --> Roadside callouts surge as cars run out of fuel with rising petrol prices

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> Fuel cost fears add to commuter woes

CommSec chief economist Craig James said petrol would be at least 28-30c dearer if the dollar fell to that of a year ago. "The strength of the Australian dollar has curbed the impact of higher global oil prices," he said ....

Whammy inevitably on the way ..

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> Victorian drivers face $400 fuel slug

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> More pain ahead for motorists as fuel prices rise

[ozbob]

$1.43 seems cheap now ..  lol

Boy, is there some pain ahead, and we still have to constantly attempt to get some decent infrastructure in place before it is too late. 

Is it too late? 

Transport poor, car dependent, neo-slum residential developments, it will be messy ..

[Fares_Fair]

couldn't agree more ozbob.
I think it is already here on the sunny coast.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Jonno]

It is too late.  All we can do is give priority to buses and use our infrastructure as much as possible.  Once we redirect road finding to public and active transport plus freight rail it will catch up eventually to demand,

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Petrol price hits 30-month high

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Petrol prices set to rise again by Easter

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Diesel pain dogs drivers, worse to come

[ozbob]

"There is no crisis .." screams the horseless carriage driver ...

[ozbob]

Courier Mail -->  Petrol prices could be up to 15c higher were it not for the strength of the Australian dollar

"When the dollar does fall, and it will eventually, then we have to be prepared for petrol prices to rise ... "

[#Metro]

Roll on the calls for petrol subsidies 

(Government already subsidies movement, it's called 'Public Transport')

[Fares_Fair]

Agree, that's what we pay our taxes for, that is the government to provide us with essential services such as; health, police, fire brigade, education, public transport.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Jonno]

Roll on the calls for petrol subsidies  

(Government already subsidies movement, it's called 'Public Transport')

... and they subsidise road transport to a even greater extent and it grows every year as our Governments encourage more and more people to drive further more often.  Every dollars spent on a road today requires 5 dollars tomorrow to avoid economic decline!!

[ozbob]

Out and about in the City of Mississauga with Mayor Hazel McCallion

This might seem a little off topic, but be patient and watch it.  There is a very relevant observation (and very strong point) made by the arguably worlds best Mayor towards the end with respect to the major failing in the almost perfect City Administration history ...

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> Rising oil prices fuel other fears

" ... Oil and gas analyst Peter Strachan said the decline of cheap oil had "massive ramifications" for society.

"People who live near public transport will be better off than those on the urban fringes and in rural areas," Mr Strachan said.

"Food prices will rise as the cost of everything from pesticides, fertiliser, refrigeration and plastic packaging increases ..."

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> High fuel prices hurting Australians, Canstar Blue survey finds

More of the same is not going to help, the rail revolution is arriving ...

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> OPEC spat sparks oil price jump

[ozbob]

Interesting comparison ...

BBC News --> UK holidaymakers 'face high petrol prices'

[ozbob]

Forbes --> Are High Gas Prices Leaving You "Gas"-ping for Relief?

[ozbob]

The State Journal Register --> Oil tops $100 for first time since early June

[somebody]

Petrol in NZ is about $NZ2.149 - Around $A1.70.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Petrol prices to head back up by 2 cents a litre

[cartoonbirdhaus]

Petrol in NZ is about $NZ2.149 - Around $A1.70.

And given that NZ's average income is roughly 70% of ours, petrol's even dearer there in real terms: more like A$2.40 or so.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Economists tip fuel prices to rise

[colinw]

Elephant in the room?  What elephant in the room?