¶ COLLIE fuel prices have remained steady this year however are consistently higher than Perth and Bunbury retailer offerings.
FuelWatch data shows the average monthly price of unleaded petrol in Collie throughout the year has ranged from a low of 179 cents per litre in June to a high of 192 cents per litre in March.
By way of comparison, the average price in Bunbury in June was 170.8 cents per litre and in Perth 172 cents per litre.
In March, the average price in Bunbury was 180.2 cents per litre and in Perth 175.6 cents per litre.
Diesel prices have also remained steady, ranging from a low of 182.4 cents per litre in May and June to a high of 192.6 cents per litre in March.
The average monthly diesel price in Bunbury has been cheaper than Collie throughout the year.
Notably, the Perth average diesel price of 187.2 cents per litre in January was higher than the Collie average of 186.4 cents per litre.
FuelWatch manager Ben Derecki told the Bulletin fuel prices tend to be higher in smaller regional areas, with the trend “evident when comparing Collie to both Perth and Bunbury”.
“The main factors are higher wholesale prices, as lower fuel volumes are delivered over longer distances, lower sales volumes requiring higher margins per litre of fuel sold, lower levels of competition that reduces downward pressure on prices, and lower non-fuel profits because of fewer in-store convenience item sales from less foot traffic,” Mr Derecki said.
FuelWatch data shows that of the three Collie fuel retailers, Ampol Collie, Gull Collie and Shell Reddy Express Collie, Gull has consistently offered the lowest prices for both unleaded petrol and diesel.
Motorists can visit www.fuelwatch.wa.gov.au to find the cheapest fuel retailer in their area.