The NRMA says falling petrol prices will continue in regional areas over the Christmas-New Year period, with part of the Hunter recording the state’s third cheapest average for unleaded fuel last week.
According to new NRMA data, Maitland had an average price of 127.7c/l for the week ending December 16 – half a cent behind Cootamundra, which had the lowest in NSW.
Prices across the Hunter fell from the previous week, with the largest drop – 2.8c/l – taking place in Singleton.
Newcastle’s average was 134.1c/l, while Muswellbrook recorded 127.9c/l.
The state’s most expensive place to buy unleaded petrol, on average, was Woolgoolga, at 155.5c/l.
“Average regular unleaded prices fell 3.1c/l this past week, with diesel prices falling 3.3c/l in regional NSW towns,” NRMA said.
“Falls in the order of 3-4c/l are expected for both unleaded and diesel fuels over the next two weeks.”
NRMA has forecast petrol prices in Sydney will hit a 14-month low during the holidays, which it says should flow-on to regional areas.
In its latest petrol price report, released on Thursday, NRMA said an increase in the average Mogas price of 0.1c/l in the past week and the value of the Australian dollar remaining stable, only falling slightly to 71.9 cents against the US dollar, were among the factors influencing fuel prices in NSW.
“Given current market forces, average unleaded petrol prices are expected to fall to 117 cents per litre over the next 2-3 weeks,” the report said.
“Average regular unleaded prices in Sydney should range between 117 cents per litre (at the low point of the cycle) and 139 cents per litre (at the high point of the next price cycle).”
