Fuel prices are starting to shape daily travel, columnist writes

Latvia reduced the excise tax on diesel and petrol on 1 October. The state says this could lower fuel prices by about eight cents per litre. A columnist for the regional outlet Kurzemnieks.lv, who drives a diesel car, doubts how much of that relief motorists will really feel.

A changed price rhythm

The author writes that fuel prices used to follow a predictable pattern: more expensive on weekdays, noticeably cheaper at weekends. When the first significant price rises began, prices sometimes dropped unexpectedly midweek, but he says such surprises can no longer be counted on. Prices also differ within a single company: a gap was noticeable between Riga and Tukums. With a nearly empty tank, drivers have little choice and must pay whatever the price board shows.

His car uses about six litres per 100 kilometres on the highway. He usually fills the tank completely, but wonders whether it would be smarter to watch prices and buy less when they are better. Eight cents a litre would come to roughly four euros on a 50-litre tank.

More than a tax issue

The author points out that price is set by more than tax: the global oil price, refining and delivery costs and the geopolitical situation all play a part. The energy market remains unstable, affected by the war in the Middle East, supply disruptions and concerns about the availability of oil products. US President Donald Trump recently considered restricting diesel exports to bring down prices in the United States, but backed away from that threat after a G7 agreement to use strategic reserves.

The author concludes that fuel prices are already altering his daily plans: spontaneous trips to other cities to see relatives are rarer, and each journey now seems worth weighing.