Locals might want to think carefully about where they fill up ahead of Christmas, with several Geelong service stations playing the role of the Grinch and bumping up fuel prices this week.
According to fuel price website PetrolSpy, stations across most parts of Geelong have started to sell unleaded fuel for up to 199.9 a litre, despite only a slight rise in the terminal gate price.
The Australia Institute of Petroleum has the terminal gate price at 167.0 for unleaded in Melbourne, a rise of just under three cents in the past week.
Many service stations, particularly in Geelong’s north have been spotted bumping up their prices since the weekend, as locals start to get away for the Christmas break.
PetrolSpy suggests locally-run Apco service stations are still your best bet for cheaper fuel, with the price for unleaded still sitting at around 161.5 a litre on Monday morning.
Data recently released by NRMA shows Melbourne will be reaching the top of its fuel price cycle at an inconvenient time.
“Brisbane and Melbourne have had less luck with the price cycles as their local prices with spike just as families are heading away,” spokesperson Peter Khoury said.
“Cost of living pressures continue to hurt families who are in desperate need of a break and unfortunately geography will largely dictate how much they pay this Christmas.”
