The so-called tank discount ends next week: the reduction in energy tax on fuel, which was limited to three months, is coming to an end.
And as controversial as it was when the tank discount was introduced as to whether the oil company would pass the discount on to the motorist at all or simply collect it, one thing is certain now: the higher tax will be passed on to the motorist;
in some cases even earlier.
Consumers now have to adjust to fuel prices well above 2 euros per liter.
This will certainly not cause any storms of enthusiasm.
But ultimately there are many other excuses for suppliers as to why fuel should no longer be so “cheap”: from low water on the Rhine, which increases transport costs, to a shortage of diesel as a result of higher demand for heating oil from companies that have to replace natural gas in their production process.
In any case, the inflation rate in Germany should continue to rise towards 10 percent.
Perhaps one or the other driver may have been pleased that he could refuel a little cheaper for the holiday trip, for example.
Overall, however, the curse of such temporary tax cuts is that afterwards everything is at least as expensive as before.
Small consolation may be that climate policy benefits if fuel is not too cheap - because people then drive less and more carefully.