Gasoline prices have continued their downward trajectory, with a recent weekly report showing a dip toward record lows in some markets. Last week, the average price settled around 1.579 euros per liter, while diesel saw a third consecutive uptick in 20-cent increments supported by a state discount and reaching about 1.721 euros per liter.
Nevertheless, the latest EU Petroleum Bulletin indicates that the prices for both fuels remained stable overall. The bulletin collects data from more than 11,400 Spanish service stations for the week of August 30 to September 5. Even without public bonuses, the market has not yet breached a two-euro per liter threshold for either fuel type.
Over the past seven days, gasoline prices edged down by 0.9 percent as the summer driving season winds down, while diesel prices rose by about 2.3 percent compared with the previous week. The seasonal shift typically brings a mix of travel demand and refinery dynamics that influence weekly averages across the country.
Lowest price since February
Gasoline reached its lowest level since mid-February, at around 1.575 euros per liter, while diesel hovered near 1.733 euros per liter, marking the highest level seen since late July. Both fuels also remained below March government price ceilings, which favored drivers with a 20-cent per liter discount available through the end of the year.
Since the start of 2022, the cost of fuel has climbed as global markets reacted to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and its ripple effects on energy supply chains. The swing in prices has left gasoline up by roughly 7 percent from early January, while diesel has risen by around 28 percent in the same period, underscoring how geopolitical tensions can influence everyday travel costs.
On a practical note, filling a typical 55-liter tank costs roughly 87 euros for gasoline, compared with about 95 euros if diesel is chosen. That difference translates to roughly 6 euros more over the year for petrol and about 21 euros more if diesel is used, illustrating how fuel choice impacts monthly budgets as prices fluctuate.
Despite reaching historically high levels, price tags for both fuels in Spain—when discounts are included—remain below the European averages. The EU statistics released last week put the continental mean at about 1.821 euros per liter for gasoline and 1.908 euros for diesel, underscoring the varying patterns of fuel costs across member states.