A new entrant into Perth's fuel market has topped the list of the cheapest non-membership outlets in the Perth metropolitan area for 2022, in a year when high fuel prices broke all-time records.
Atlas Fuel Kwinana offered Perth drivers an average price for regular unleaded petrol (ULP) of 165.7 cents per litre (cpl) throughout the year. The nearby Vibe Kwinana OPT came in second with 166 cpl and Liberty Gosnells third with 168.5 cpl. Costco at Perth Airport was the overall cheapest, offering 162.3 cpl, but an annual membership fee is required to access this fuel outlet.
The overall average price for ULP in Perth in 2022 was 180.6 cpl, eclipsing last year's total of 145.6 cpl. The ULP daily average peaked at a record 223.5 cpl on 29 June 2022, with a number of individual sites priced at 239.9 cpl on the same day.
Diesel prices also broke all-time records with the daily average topping 235.6 cpl on 28 and 30 October 2022 and 252.9 cpl at an individual site on 27 October 2022.
Independent retailers again dominated the cheapest list, taking nine of the top ten positions, while BP and Ampol dominated the list of the most expensive sites.
Commissioner for Consumer Protection Gary Newcombe said drivers in the Kwinana area are the big winners at the moment when it comes to easy access to the cheapest prices.
"Four independent fuel outlets in Kwinana, one Atlas Fuel and three Vibe, are included in the top ten cheapest list and there is now the newly opened Costco store in Casuarina that will add to the already strong local competition," Mr Newcombe said.
"2022 has been a horror year for households with record fuel prices adding to the rising cost of living burden. However, prices have eased recently.
"Fuel prices have been extremely volatile during the year, peaking at record levels after the lifting of COVID-19 travel restrictions and the Russian invasion of Ukraine disrupting the international fuel market. Prices have, however, reduced recently with fears of a global recession.
"This easing is expected to continue leading into Christmas, but volatility due to a number of factors will also continue, so accurate longer-term predictions are difficult to make.
"The year saw a disruption to the fortnightly price cycle in June with some retailers deciding to introduce smaller mid-cycle price hikes. This gives motorists a price reprieve on cheaper Tuesdays every week, when most outlets are selling close to or below wholesale prices."
The high prices resulted in a record 19.2 million visits to the free FuelWatch website in 2022, averaging about 55,000 visits a day. The highest number of visits was 157,637 on 8 March 2022. Currently 14,400 people subscribe to daily FuelWatch email alerts.
"By using the FuelWatch website and always shopping at the cheapest site, rather than the most expensive, motorists with an average 60-litre tank can potentially save up to $1,000 a year," the Commissioner said.
"So this is a good savings tip for households struggling to deal with the current high cost of living."
Fuel price information is available at www.fuelwatch.wa.gov.au and, after 2.30pm each day, motorists can compare both today's and tomorrow's prices. Email alerts can also be sent out daily or motorists can call 1300 30 40 54.
