Fuel prices continue to rise. And there are just two days left until the excise duty discount on diesel expires.
Based on data from the Ministry of Business, updated to September 3, the national average price of petrol in self-service mode stands at 2.039 euros per litre, compared to 2.027 euros the previous day. The cost of diesel is instead 2.147 euros compared to 2.131 on 2 September.
Updated petrol and diesel prices: two days of increases
“In just 2 days on the road network, a 50-litre tank costs 85 cents more, both for petrol and diesel” reports Massimiliano Dona of the National Consumers Union. “On the motorway, you pay 85 cents more for diesel fuel, while you pay 1 euro more for petrol. In a single day, from yesterday to today, a refueling of diesel fuel increases by 75 cents on the motorway and 80 on normal roads, petrol by 70 and 60 cents respectively.”
Moreover, crude oil prices are still skyrocketing. On the London market, a barrel of oil costs more than 95 dollars a barrel compared to around 65 in the period before the closure of Hormuz. Solutions are scarce. The resources too.
What the government wants to do: towards a new discount from 6 September
Meanwhile, the decree that cuts the cost of diesel by 17 cents expires on September 5th. “In the absence of new extensions – reports Codacons – starting from next weekend diesel fuel at self-service outlets will reach the average price of 2.4 euros per liter on the motorway, while on the ordinary network the price lists will rise above 2.3 euros/litre”. The government will hardly stand by and watch.
According to ‘Il Sole 24 ore’, the idea of providing a contribution to workers through so-called ‘fringe benefits’, i.e. company vouchers, has not yet been completely set aside, but the change in strategy “could take a few more days”. For this reason, the most plausible hypothesis is that of a new generalized discount which, given the resources, is unlikely to also affect petrol. For coverage, the executive plans to draw on the extra revenue guaranteed by excise duties. It remains to be seen how much the cut will amount to, but it is likely that little or nothing will change compared to the current situation. In short, the government could extend the discount on diesel for a few more days and then adopt a new approach and provide some contribution to the pay slip.
Salvini rejects the ISEE
The hypothesis of adopting a bonus linked to the ISEE, however, seems to have faded given the opposition of the League. Salvini was clear: “As Transport Minister – he explained – I asked that truck drivers, farmers, fishermen and those who work there such as commercial agents also be included in the protections. As the League, we ask that not only employees be supported, that self-employment and VAT numbers are not excluded. And I add my reflection, which we will bring as the League into action: rethink the ISEE” because as it is “it excludes a large part of the population from the contributions that always go to themselves: the baby bonus, the rent bonus, the petrol bonus and so on, always go to the usual ones and they are rarely Italian. I hope – concluded Salvini – that in the contributions for the fuel discount we don’t only evaluate the ISEE or we always help the usual ones”.