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More fuel price hikes: 'Motorists have felt the pain' - Stats SA

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The first of two major fuel hikes took place on May 2 2018, with an increase of 45 cents per litre.

The next increase will hit South Africans at the end of this month with the highest it has ever been at 80c a litre, pushing the price of fuel to more than R15/litre according to the Automobile Association (AA).

But why have fuel hikes been so frequent?

Inflation rate increase

According to StatsSA, South Africa’s consumer inflation rate has jumped to 4.5% in April after reaching a seven-year low of 3.8% in March. Much of the increase was a result of price rises in product groups that attract specific taxes, namely alcohol, fuel and sugary drinks.

Stats SA says: "A one percentage point increase in value added tax (VAT) also came into effect in April. The exact impact on inflation is not yet entirely clear in the data, since VAT is not paid on all goods and services, and the introduction of the higher rate is being treated differently by providers.

"Motorists in particular have felt the pain. The price for inland 93 octane petrol increased by 69c/l in April, of which 52c was a result of tax increases." 

9% fuel price increase in 12 months

"Fuel prices in general have risen by 9% over the past 12 months, placing fuel as the number 1 product (on par with meat) with the highest year-on-year price increase.

Fuel price to increase

The AA says: "A substantial weakening of the rand against the US dollar has combined with sharp increases in international oil prices to produce a new record-high fuel price of over R15 a litre for fuel.

"The previous highest price for fuel was in December last year when petrol cost R14.76 a litre.

Petrol is likely to increase by more than 80cents a litre at the end of May, according to the AA.


Current petrol price at a glance (as of May 2, 2018)

LRP

Inland 93: R14.72
Coast 95: R14.38

Unleaded 95

Inland 95: R14.97

Diesel - 0.05% Sulphur

Inland: R13.33
Coast: R12.85 

Take a look at the cost of fuel in 2017: January to May:

                                                                  


Fuel taxes and levies v CPI inflation 

The graph below illustrates the increase in fuel taxes and levies between 2013 and 2017 compared to the average Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation for each year. Figures for 2018 are estimates based on January 2018 fuel prices, and estimates of the projected average CPI at the end of the term. These figures will vary depending changes to these numbers

See graph below on the price of fuel from 2006 until April 2017:



With these major fuel price increases, it's best to try and drive smart and efficiently.

Here are a few tips from the Automobile Association on how to save fuel:

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