Gasoline prices have continued to slide for a fourth week in a row, dipping to an average of 1.826 euros per liter. The drop makes it the lowest since May, helped by a government discount of 0.20 euros per liter. Diesel, now in its third consecutive week of declines, sits at 1.771 euros per liter.
Even with the recent easing, gasoline still tops the 2-euro-per-liter mark for consumers when the government bonus is not applied, according to data published this Thursday by the EU Petroleum Bulletin. The bulletin gathers daily averages from more than 11,400 Spanish service stations during the July 12–18 period. Consumers could face prices above 2 euros per liter if the public subsidy is not in effect.
Over the past seven days, gasoline prices fell about 2.5 percent, while diesel posted a roughly 2.8 percent reduction. The latest week marks the lowest gasoline price since the last week of May, when it stood at 1.768 euros per liter. For diesel, the current level is the lowest since early June, when it was 1.716 euros per liter.
This trajectory mirrors levels seen around the end of March, when the government began offering a 0.20-euro-per-liter bonus for all drivers. If the subsidy is excluded, gasoline would again exceed 2 euros per liter for a seventh time, reaching around 2.026 euros, while diesel would dip below that barrier for the first time in over a month at about 1.971 euros per liter.
Despite the recent decline, gasoline remains the eighth highest price in the historical record. It is about 5.9 percent below its peak, marking its position as the fifth-highest price observed since records began. The elevated levels in both fuels are largely tied to earlier oil price trends, although those dynamics have started to ease in recent weeks and are gradually influencing retail fuel prices.
In response to the rising cost pressure on households, the government extended the 0.20-euro-per-liter bonus for all consumers through year-end. This measure aims to cushion the impact of higher fuel expenses on the public.
Between 19 and 23 euros more expensive than in January
The upward movement in fuel prices has led to gasoline costing roughly 23 percent more than at the start of the year, with diesel showing a similar annual pattern. At current levels, filling a typical 55-liter petrol tank costs just over 100 euros, while a diesel fill runs around 97 euros. That means paying roughly 19 euros more for petrol and 23 euros more for diesel since the beginning of 2022.
Yet, thanks to the state aid, a typical household can save about 11 euros when topping up a 55-liter tank, regardless of whether petrol or diesel is chosen. Even with the discounts, the price in Spain remains below the European average for both fuels, with approximately 1,929 euros per liter for gasoline and 1,936 euros per liter for diesel, according to EU statistics.