Overview
- As of Thursday, national pump averages climbed to about €1.724/litre for gasoline self-service and €1.815 for diesel, with diesel at its highest level in more than two years.
- Motorway and city hotspots show extreme spikes, with diesel reported above €2.50/litre and gasoline over €2.30/litre at some service areas, and queues forming in Rome.
- The price watchdog ‘Mister Prezzi’ intensified monitoring, sent initial findings to the Guardia di Finanza, requested explanations from oil companies, and convened two rapid‑alert sessions for Friday, March 6.
- Consumer groups including Assoutenti, Codacons and Adoc alleged anomalous, rapid increases and moved to the Antitrust, while major brands lifted recommended prices by a few eurocents, especially on diesel.
- The government is evaluating temporary excise ‘sterilization’ as a buffer, ministers highlight robust storage and diversified supplies, and external estimates warn of sizable household cost pressures if the shock endures.