Italy has moved into the top seven most expensive countries in Europe for both petrol and diesel, according to a report from Il Sole 24 ORE published on Friday. The finding comes as Italian motorists face renewed price increases at the pump.
The news outlet's analysis places Italy among the seven EU nations where filling a tank costs the most. Separate reporting from Milano Finanza notes that the price of petrol has again climbed above the €2-per-litre mark, making the return from summer holidays more expensive for drivers. ANSA also reported that petrol reached €2.005 per litre, a three-year high.
The increases are not limited to petrol. Quotidiano Nazionale reports that diesel prices are approaching €3 per litre, a level that would erase the benefit of recent excise duty discounts. The same outlet says the government is now facing a decision on how to respond. La Gazzetta dello Sport attributes the upward pressure primarily to rising refining costs rather than crude oil prices alone.
According to the reports, the current spike follows a period of relative stability, and the new highs are being driven by factors in the fuel supply chain. The combination of higher refining margins and existing tax levels has pushed Italian pump prices above those of most other European countries.
What to watch next is whether the Italian government steps in with new measures to offset the excise duty burden, or whether prices continue to climb toward the €3 threshold for diesel.
