The rise in prices at the pump could well push the French government to intervene to limit the breakage.

Last week, a liter of diesel was worth an average of 1.5354 euros, its all-time high, according to official figures.

The Super SP 98 for its part reached 1.6332 euros, a level that had not been seen for nearly ten years.

"As soon as these increases continue and the estimates that are made indicate that they should continue over time, obviously we would consider protective measures," government spokesman Gabriel Attal said on Wednesday.

The question is highly sensitive for the government, while fuel prices have already exceeded those of the fall of 2018, when the “yellow vests” movement was triggered.

Six months before the presidential election, several candidates have also taken up this theme and put forward proposals.

While France is like the rest of Europe and the world facing an increase in energy prices, against the backdrop of the global economic recovery, the executive has already announced specific measures for gas and electricity.

But none on fuels for the moment.

Distributors invited to reduce their margins

The Minister of Ecological Transition, Barbara Pompili, on Tuesday asked distributors "to make a gesture in this difficult period by reducing their margins".

"The net margin of distributors is of the order of 1 cent per liter so we believe that at these levels it is not reasonable to reduce them further", reacts Olivier Gantois, president of the French Industry Union. oil companies (Ufip).

"Fuel distributors are not margin thieves," says Francis Pousse, of the National Council of Automotive Professions (CNPA).

"Whether the fuel is 1 or 2 euros, we always have the same margin," he also emphasizes.

Professionals highlight the very strong competition existing on the French market, with a significant weight of large-scale distribution, which tends to pull prices down.

The price of a barrel of oil boosted by the global economic recovery

The current surge for motorists follows mechanically the rise of the barrel of oil, whose prices have been boosted by the global economic recovery.

Yet prices, above $ 80 per barrel, are far from their historical records.

“There has been an increase in diesel taxation of 16 cents per liter for 7 or 8 years.

So if we compare with the prices of crude before that period, the comparison is biased, ”notes Olivier Gantois.

Taxation represents more than half the price of fuel.

First with the internal consumption tax on energy products (TICPE), which represents the fourth tax revenue of the State behind VAT, income and corporate taxes (33.2 billion euros in revenue in 2019).

Then, VAT applies to both fuel and TICPE.

The weapon of taxation, the miracle solution?

“Today, on a liter of diesel you have 66 cents of TICPE and about 20 cents of VAT collected on the sale price… If an effort is needed, isn't it logical that it should be who pockets the most who makes the effort?

“Asks Francis Pousse, pointing to the responsibility of the State.

Many presidential candidates want to use the weapon of taxation, even if it means weighing on public finances.

Marine Le Pen (RN), Anne Hidalgo (PS) or Arnaud Montebourg (ex-PS) thus advocate a reduction in VAT.

The ecologist Yannick Jadot defended a “floating” taxation - which adapts according to the prices of crude.

Gabriel Attal for his part evoked "several tracks": "there is the question of lowering taxes - we are not there today -;

there may be a question of specific help ”.

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  • Oil

  • Gabriel Attal

  • energy

  • Gasoline prices

  • Fuel

  • Gasoline

  • Economy