According to a report by the Rheinische Post, German states want fuel prices in Germany to only be allowed to rise once a day in the future. They are calling on the federal government to introduce a price cap based on the Austrian model. In Austria, gas station operators are only allowed to raise prices once a day at 12:00 noon. Price reductions, on the other hand, may be made at any time.
The background to this is a report by the Federal Cartel Office, which states that there are 18 price changes per day and gas station – and the trend is rising. It is becoming increasingly rare to be able to fill up at the pump during “price troughs,” according to a motion submitted by the state of Baden-Württemberg. Sources in the Bundesrat said that since it had already spoken out in favor of such a measure in 2012, the upper house of parliament was likely to approve it again this time.
The gas station interest group welcomed the initiative. “We think it's right and good,” spokesman Herbert Rabl told the Rheinische Post newspaper. Gas station operators are often surprised themselves when fuel prices rise suddenly. Many gas stations have to pay the price for the pricing policies of oil companies because frustrated customers complain. “That's why we welcome this as a reassurance and stabilization for consumers,” Rabl said.
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