Fuel discount shows effect: petrol prices fell by up to 27 cents in May

Motorists are now clearly feeling the relief from the fuel discount in their wallets. The Handelsblatt reports that fuel prices in May have fallen significantly. Super E10 costs on average just 13 cents less per litre than in April, diesel even 27 cents less – a noticeable difference for commuters and frequent drivers.

The figures come from the Monopolies Commission and the Ifo Institute, which regularly record petrol station prices. The Tagesspiegel documents that price declines are particularly pronounced for diesel. This is due to a combination of the state fuel discount and falling crude oil prices on the world market.

Delayed pass-through of discounts

Initially, the impact of the discount had been moderate. The ADAC confirms that after the introduction of the fuel discount, prices fell only slowly. Only towards the end of the month did the measure then show its full relief effect. This suggests that petrol stations initially did not pass on the discounts in full to customers.

The price decline is more pronounced for diesel than for petrol. This is also because diesel vehicles are widespread in Germany and the market is more sensitive to price changes. For tradespeople, taxi drivers and logistics companies that rely heavily on diesel, the price decline means measurable cost relief.

The combination of state support and falling world market prices for crude oil is thus having a positive effect. How long this relief lasts depends on the further development of oil prices and the duration of the fuel discount.