PRICE CHANGES for petrol and diesel are being passed on to consumers in a “relatively timely fashion”, according to a report published by the National Consumer Agency yesterday.
The report, which was commissioned by Tánaiste and Minster for Enterprise Mary Coughlan amid concerns that pump prices were not falling in line with dramatic drops in wholesale prices, did, however, find that there were gaps in the way fuel prices were tracked in the Republic.
She said the report would come “as a surprise to many”. It demonstrated that at a national level there was “a healthy and competitive market at the pumps”.
The report found the Republic’s retail petrol and diesel supply market to be competitive by international standards, and it said on a per capita basis there were almost five times more petrol stations in the Republic than in Britain.
However, it identifies gaps in the manner in which information on retail petrol and diesel prices is collected, and said there was “scope for enhancement in analysis and reporting” of fuel prices.
Ms Coughlan said for price competition to be effective “the consumer must be fully informed”.
