Petrol and diesel prices start falling across Australia as global oil drops

NRMA figures reported on November 13 put Australia's national average regular-unleaded price at $2.23 a litre, down almost 22 cents since late October. Diesel had fallen by more than 20 cents to $2.71 a litre. Some stations had unleaded below $2, but these averages are not a guaranteed price at any individual bowser.

A sharp fall in international oil costs is starting to reach motorists. Brent crude was around US$93 a barrel on November 10, compared with US$111.90 a week earlier. Queensland motoring body RACQ urged retailers to pass on savings, warning that regional areas may take longer as existing fuel stocks turn over.

The Australian Institute of Petroleum's earlier weekly figures, for the week ending November 8, put petrol at 234.5 cents a litre and diesel at 278.3 cents. Those are an earlier reporting period, not contradictory same-day prices. Prices remained substantially above pre-conflict levels.

NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury warned that motorists were not yet out of the woods. Its analysis found gaps of up to $1.06 a litre between the cheapest and most expensive available fuel in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Consumers should compare current local prices rather than assume every station has passed on the same reduction. Continued conflict and shipping disruption leave the outlook uncertain.