Gasoline and diesel in Switzerland: +5 cents per liter

Context

TL;DR

• 95-octane gasoline at 2,16 francs per liter
• 98-octane gasoline at 2,27 francs per liter
• Diesel at 2,45 francs, 1 centime below the annual high

Key facts

• Weekly increase → 5 cents per litre
• Unleaded 95 petrol → 2,16 francs per litre
• Unleaded 98 petrol → 2,27 francs per litre
• Diesel → 2,45 francs per litre
• Annual diesel high → 2,46 francs in mid-September

In one week, petrol and diesel increased by 5 cents per litre in Switzerland. This is shown by the surveys conducted by the Touring Club Suisse (TCS), which indicate an average price of 2,16 francs per litre for unleaded 95 petrol.

Unleaded 98 is now listed at 2,27 francs, while diesel reaches 2,45 francs per litre. For the latter, the margin compared with the annual high is minimal: the current value is just one cent below the 2,46 francs reached in mid-September.

The increase therefore affects the two fuels listed by the TCS, while the figures remain distinct by product. 95 is at 2,16 francs, 98 at 2,27 and diesel at 2,45: the figure closest to the mid-September high is precisely that of diesel. Fuel prices are expressed in francs per litre, while the crude oil benchmark is expressed in dollars per barrel. These are two different scales of measurement.

After the lull, the new increase

The sequence described begins with the peaks in the ninth month of the year. Following those highs, fuel prices had recorded a slight decline in line with global market trends. The drop, however, was brief: the TCS’s weekly survey now records a new increase.

In Switzerland, there is also the ongoing difficulty of transporting goods along the Rhine. The river level continues to remain low and does not allow boats to be fully loaded. The source mentions this factor together with global market trends; meanwhile, on international oil markets, prices are showing a modest decline.

A barrel of Brent crude costs about 105 dollars this morning. The price remains much higher than the approximately 72 dollars recorded at the end of February, at the beginning of the war against Iran. The closest time reference remains the week; the one used for the annual comparison of diesel is mid-September.

Operational details

The useful comparison for the budget

For those buying fuel in Switzerland, the most immediate figure is the per-unit increase: five centimes more per liter than the previous week. With the quantity purchased held constant, the practical comparison therefore starts with the price per liter, not an overall estimate of the expenditure.

The distinction between the three products prevents the increase from being read as a single undifferentiated price:

The first useful comparison is between the current diesel price and its annual high: the gap is just one centime. For a reader tracking the cost of living, this is the most concrete reference available, because it places the current price alongside the highest level already reached during the year.

Oil and transport, two references to keep separate

The second aspect concerns oil. Brent is slightly down on international markets, but a barrel still costs about 105 dollars, compared with about 72 dollars in late February. The movement in crude oil and the movement recorded in fuel prices are therefore described in the same update without being conflated: the former is an international indicator, while the latter is the price of fuel in Switzerland.

The logistical issue of the Rhine also remains. Its low level does not allow barges to be fully loaded. To read the next figure without confusing the different aspects, it is best to keep the price per liter, the trend in Brent, and the condition of river transport separate. The report presents these three elements within the same framework.

The shift from a decline to an increase does not erase the previous comparison; rather, it indicates that the weekly price and the annual benchmark reflect different time frames. The former measures the recent change; the latter places diesel in relation to the mid-September high. The slight decline in oil should be kept distinct from the fuel price recorded in Switzerland.

Key points

From the news to personal monitoring

The update can be used as a small verification checklist, without adding estimates that do not appear in the data. The starting point is to distinguish the fuel purchased and maintain the same unit of measurement: francs per litre for Swiss prices.

Four steps to follow

1. Identify the reference. Choose between unleaded 95, unleaded 98 and diesel. The comparison makes sense only if the observed price concerns the same product. 2. Note the per-litre value. Use as references 2,16 francs for 95, 2,27 for 98 and 2,45 for diesel. These are the values reported by TCS for the situation described. 3. Measure the change. Compare the figure with the previous week, bearing in mind the 5-cent-per-litre increase indicated for petrol and diesel. If you are looking at diesel, add the reference of the 2,46 francs reached in mid-September. 4. Read the market separately. Brent should be recorded in dollars per barrel: about 105 this morning, compared with about 72 at the end of February. The Rhine, on the other hand, should be followed as a transport factor: the low water level does not allow vessels to be fully loaded.

This sequence prevents Swiss prices, international quotations and river transport conditions from being mixed together. It also helps read the previous brief respite for what it was: a slight and temporary decline, followed by the weekly increase recorded by TCS. However, it does not allow the available data to be turned into a forecast of the next price.

The criterion also applies when looking at crude oil: Brent should be retained as a reference expressed in dollars per barrel, distinct from fuel prices expressed in francs per litre. For the Rhine, on the other hand, the figure to note is the difficulty of loading vessels due to the river’s low water level.

For those who want to track the impact of price increases on daily expenses, it is advisable to keep the product, the price per litre and the time reference for the comparison together. This keeps the reading anchored to the reported data: 5 cents in one week, distinct values for 95 petrol, 98 petrol and diesel, and diesel close to its annual high. For more information on costo della vita in Svizzera, consult the dedicated guide.

Source: swissinfo.ch