Motorists face 20c hike in petrol costs

RISING oil costs have pushed petrol prices up by more than 12% and diesel by more than 15% in the last year, a survey found yesterday.

Research by the Director of Consumer Affairs Office found the most expensive petrol topped 123 cent per litre in Dublin and 119 cent per litre outside the capital.

The survey found wide differences between garages, with prices varying by 16 cent in Dublin and 12 cent per litre elsewhere.

But drivers hunting the cheapest deals won't find anywhere charging less than 107.9 cent a litre in Dublin and 106.9 cent across the country, the survey, conducted at the end of August, revealed.

It was a similar story for diesel, with 121.8 cent the most expensive price in Dublin and 117 cent outside the city.

The cheapest was 105.9 cent per litre.

Prices varied between filling stations by as much as 17 cent per litre in Dublin and 13 cent elsewhere.

The Texaco garage on the Drumcondra Rd, Dublin, was ahead of almost 250 filling stations across the country with the highest prices for both petrol (123.8 cent) and diesel (121.8 cent).

The Independent garage in Pollerton, Co Carlow, provided the best value for petrol at 106.9 cent per litre, while the Esso garage on the Ballymun Road, Dublin, had some of the cheapest prices for both petrol and diesel. The average price for a litre of petrol was 111.1 cent, while diesel averaged at 109.3 cent.

In September 2004 the average petrol cost was 98.9 cent and diesel 93.5 cent per litre.

But the survey did find 100% compliance with the law on clearly displaying prices on the forecourt, after complaints from drivers last month led inspectors to check stations were charging the same amount at the till as they displayed.

Consumer Affairs director Carmel Foley said: "It is very important that prices are clearly displayed.

"Consumers have the right to know what it will cost them before they make a purchase. They will also be able to buy where they can get the best value."

Dermot Jewell, chief executive of the Consumer Association of Ireland, said: "Petrol prices are the most clearly displayed of all prices, so it's easy to make a choice, and make the best choice you can."

But he said prices at different outlets were coming closer together and consumer choice seemed to be fading as costs climbed.

"Talking up the suggestion that this is going to get worse is making it easy for prices to converge at a high level. We're not seeing the type of price differentiation we would have seen a month ago," he said.

He called on retailers to sell on their fuel at a reasonable price.