Fuel cuts, something doesn't add up: "In no region has the reduction been what was announced"

"Three days after the 20-cent cut in fuel excise taxes, 24.4 with VAT took effect, not only are diesel prices on the highway still above 2 euros, but in no Italian region has that reduction been achieved." This is stated by Massimiliano Dona, president of the National Consumers' Union. Dona explains that "to demonstrate that this anomaly does not depend on the rise in crude oil, unjustifiable regional disparities persist, with fluctuations that vary, summing the two days in which prices fell (on March 19 they rose), for gasoline from -14.4 cents per liter in Campania to -19.7 in Valle d'Aosta, a gap of over 5 cents (5.3), for diesel from -12.6 cents per liter in Molise, a drop of almost half of what was expected, to -18.6 in Valle d'Aosta, with a difference of 6 cents."

The data emerges from the association's study based on regional averages of self-service fuels, published today by Mimit. "It is evident - notes Dona - that if, in the face of a reduction in excise taxes that lasts only 20 days, there are those who wait more than 3 days to adjust prices, it means they are pocketing 15% of what should have gone to motorists. A very serious fact against which the decree has not provided any penalties, giving neither the Antitrust nor the Financial Police any additional tools, as they can only fine them for administrative irregularities, where they find them."

On the highway, for self-service gasoline, the reduction from March 19 to 21 is 18.5 cents, equivalent to 9.25 euros for a full tank of 50 liters, for diesel it is 15.8 cents, 7.90 euros per refueling. For gasoline, the worst region in terms of variation between the price on March 19 and today is still Campania, where the price only drops by 14.4 cents per liter against the 24.4 theoretical expected, equivalent to 7.20 euros for a refueling of 50 liters. The most virtuous region is Valle d'Aosta where the decrease is 19.7 cents per liter. For diesel, the smallest drops are still for Molise -12.6 cents per liter, equivalent to 6.30 euros for a full tank of 50 liters. The best region is once again Valle d'Aosta where the price drops by 18.6 cents.