The price of fuel, which has been on the rise for several months, has just returned to its level of February 2020, before the start of the Covid-19 crisis.
An increase linked to the price of oil, itself linked ... to advances in vaccination against the virus which strikes the whole world.
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As you have certainly noticed, refueling has been more expensive in recent weeks.
The price of fuel has just returned to its level of February 2020, after an increase of 11 cents per liter for gasoline and 9 cents for diesel since the start of the year.
As usual, it is the price of crude oil that is behind this increase.
But what you may not know is that this price is linked to advances in Covid-19 vaccination around the world.
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The effectiveness of vaccines "supports the price" of oil
"Each time we confirm that vaccinations have their effectiveness and that we will gradually come to vaccinate more and more people, this supports the course", explains at the microphone of Europe 1 Olivier Gantois, general manager of the 'UFIP, the French Union of Petroleum Industries.
"In fact, it takes away the specter of a collapse in demand and prices. As a result, since November, crude prices have gradually increased, until today, around $ 65 a barrel. "
We can therefore say that the evolution of the health situation directly affects the price of your full at the pump.
A phenomenon all the more visible since prices fell at the start of the pandemic, recalls Francis Perrin, specialist in energy issues and director of research at IRIS.
“Last year, in 2020, world oil consumption fell by around 9% compared to 2019,” he explains.
"But since then, things have improved economically, and in terms of oil, it is estimated that during the year 2021, world oil consumption should increase and return to its level of 2019. . "
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Other factors to consider
It should be noted, however, that Covid-19 is not the only factor weighing on oil prices.
We are waiting in particular for the decision taken by the black gold producers, the members of OPEC and Russia, who are pushing for their part to put more oil on the market - they meet Thursday by videoconference.
"There are also geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the region which alone represents almost 50% of the world's proven oil reserves," adds Francis Perrin.
Finally, fuel demand also plays a role: it was still down 15% year-on-year in January, but returned to its pre-crisis level in February, in particular thanks to the upturn in activity in China.