At record pace, the price of petrol is getting ever closer to the dreaded two-euro threshold. Today to report increases are Ip, which rises by 1,5 euro cents per liter on petrol and one cent on diesel, Shell, which increases both products by 0,5 cents, e Q8, which increases only the green one by 0,6 cents. The national averages stand at 1,865 euros for petrol and 1,774 for diesel. The maximum peak reached is 1,980 euros for petrol.
Dizzying prices that are pushing Italians to find alternative solutions: increase the bicycles on the streets and they crowd public transport. It is the data relating to consumption that demonstrate this change in trend.
The surveys of the Petroleum Union and the Ministry of Economic Development show how in the purchase of fuel there was a contraction of 9,8%. Expenditure shows no sign of decreasing, however, kept high by high prices, which actually grows by 11,1%, exceeding 10 billion euros, revenues that will enrich the coffers not only of the oil industry but also those of the tax authorities, which with a load of taxes equal to 5,5 billion between excise duties and VAT, collects 19,8% more than in 2011.
Consumer associations make themselves heard, the Codacons he asks the government for an intervention, "Premier Monti and the economic ministers must urgently cut the excise taxes on fuel, the only possibility to determine a significant drop in price lists at the pump".
The situation, of course, is conditioned by the price of oil, WTI is steadily above 100 while Brent is around 125. It seemed that an agreement had been reached between the United Kingdom and the United States on placing their oil stocks on the market to control prices, but Barack Obama denied it. The US president also defined the concessions enjoyed by oil companies as "unacceptable".
