Big rip-off: Regional petrol prices hit a five-year high

THE cost of unleaded fuel at bowsers around regional Queensland was the highest in five years during December last year, the latest RACQ data reveals.

. Picture: Peter Holt

THE cost of unleaded fuel at bowsers around regional Queensland was the highest in five years during December last year, the latest RACQ data reveals.

It is annual report on fuel prices across the Sunshine State, the RACQ found the unprecedented prices for unleaded petrol could be found in many of the state's biggest towns.

With the exception of the Sunshine Coast - which has the lowest ULP prices in the state at 145.7c/l, almost everywhere else in Queensland felt the pain at the bowser in December.

Towns to experience record prices last month included Rockhampton, Mackay, Gladstone, Bowen, Ipswich, Hervey Bay, Bowen and Kingaroy, among others.

Prices for unleaded fuel in each town ranged from 155.1c/l in Ipswich up to 159.3c/l in Rockhampton during December - beating the previous record prices of about 155c/l in July 2008.

It has prompted the RACQ spokeswoman Renee Smith to call on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to investigate why prices were so high.

"While there were fluctuations in oil prices and a weakening Aussie dollar in 2013, the record prices can't be justified, with retail margins far higher than we believe fair," she said.

"A new daily average high of 165.4cpl for ULP was recorded in Brisbane on 24 July.

"The average price of ULP in December was 154.7cpl, exceeding the previous monthly record of 153.4cpl in July 2008."

Fuel prices (ULP c/l) in December 2013:

• Bowen: 159.1
• Brisbane: 154.7
• Gladstone: 158.3
• Goondiwindi: 157.9
• Hervey Bay: 156.5
• Ipswich: 155.1
• Kingaroy: 158.4
• Mackay: 156.1
• Rockhampton: 159.3