New Year Begins With Significant Increase at the Pumps writes Geraldine Herbert
Motorists have been greeted with unwelcome news to start the new year, as the AA’s latest fuel price index found that average fuel prices in Ireland had increased significantly over the past month. According to the AA’s latest monthly survey of fuel prices, a litre of petrol now costs 144.5c on average – an increase of just under 3c on last month’s average price of 141.7c. Meanwhile, diesel drivers have faced an even bigger hit at the pumps as prices increased by 4.5c per litre over the past month, currently sitting at 135.9c per litre.
A period of volatility in crude oil prices has contributed to the increase in pump prices. While the cost of a barrel of crude oil currently costs $64.20, down slightly from last month’s average price of $65-$66, over the course of the past month prices have surged to as high as $68.91 per barrel in response to geopolitical events.
Nine Tips to reduce fuel consumption
1) Remove all non-essential items from your car and don’t forget to include the boot!
2) One of the easiest and most effective ways to conserve fuel is to change driving styles. Change up into a higher gear as soon as its possible, correct use of gears can save you up to 15% of your fuel bill.
3) Check tyre pressures regularly, any imbalance in the tyre pressure or less tyre pressure can mean more fuel burnt.
4)Don’t rev the engine! Revving the engine whilst stationary does nothing except waste fuel.
5) Plan Ahead, anticipate stop signs and lights, the less you have to stop, the better your fuel economy.
6)Service your car regularly.
7) Sharing your car is a great way to save money. Consider car pooling with neighbours, friends or colleagues it will not only reduce the fuel you use but also the wear and tear on your car. Check out Carpool.ie, founded in 2008 the scheme is open to anyone who owns a car, or anyone looking for a lift.
8) Consider other forms of transport. Commuters can make significant savings on Dublin Bus, Bus Eireann, and Irish Rail services by purchasing tickets through the Taxsaver.ie scheme. Designed to encourage people to use public transport to travel to and from work its worth considering if fuel and parking costs are making your daily commute unaffordable.
9) Get a bike, its cheap, green and probably the fastest way to get around a city
Geraldine Herbert
20 January 2020
