The increase also affected the methane gas which many considered an economical alternative. This week it goes for €0,981/kg but in the last week it was over €2.00/kg. This is really worrying considering the fact that the annual media price of gas is always about 24,50 cents/smc.
Fuel prices vary according to the supplier or filling station. Quotidiano Energia noted that “For self service prices vary between €1,822/litre to €1,837 and that of service is between €1,953/litre to €2,039. The price of diesel in self service ranges from €1,649 to €1,849/litre and if served it is €1,832 to € 1,902 in leading filling stations.”
According to Assoutenti, an association in the transport sector and Codacons, “a litre of fuel and diesel cost about €16 more compared to this time in 2021 and 19.4% more than 2020.”
Energy prices are likely to increase with consumers getting a higher bill on domestic gas and electricity. Manufacturing industries are also experiencing high cost of production and this is ultimately passed on to the consumers. The increase is caused mainly by the lockdown, OPEC members market accord and may not be unrelated to the growing tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
In Italy, 85% of products are transported by road, resulting in high prices of groceries at the supermarket. There is a steep inflation between October and December 2021 which is more than the annual base. An average family is struggling to make ends meet, spending over €300 on groceries alone. Transportation costs is an added burden; a car tank cannot be filled with less than €60, making a budget of €600 difficult for a small family. Prime Minister Mario Draghi last week in Genoa that help is coming to help cushion the soaring energy prices.
