With the expiry of the fuel discount, motorists will have to pay significantly more at German petrol pumps than in all of the direct EU neighboring countries.
On September 5, a daily average of 2.07 euros for a liter of Super E5 and 2.16 euros for diesel had to be shelled out, as the Federal Statistical Office announced on Monday.
Compared to the direct neighboring countries, the price for a liter of E5 premium petrol (or Eurosuper 95) on that day was only similarly high in Denmark (EUR 2.04) and the Netherlands (EUR 2.01).
"The comparison with diesel fuel is even clearer," the statisticians determined.
In Denmark, the country with the highest diesel prices among the EU neighbors, a liter cost 2.07 euros, nine cents less than in Germany.
In the Netherlands it was even eleven cents less at 2.05 euros.
Among the neighboring EU countries, prices on September 5 were cheapest in Poland (E5: 1.38 euros, diesel: 1.61 euros).
But also in Luxembourg, France, the Czech Republic, Belgium and Austria, refueling was significantly cheaper than in Germany.
"As late as mid-August, petrol and diesel at German filling stations were lower or similar to those in most of Germany's direct EU neighbors," the statisticians explained.
"The main reason for the current price increase is the expiry of the temporary reduction in energy tax on fuels on August 31, 2022, the so-called tank discount." liters reduced - limited to three months from June 1st.
If the effects on VAT are also taken into account, the relief was 35.16 cents per liter of petrol and 16.71 cents per liter of diesel.
Many economists had criticized the tank discount, with which the federal government wanted to curb inflation.
The main beneficiaries are high earners with two or three cars in the household, said DIW President Marcel Fratzscher.
The discount is also worthwhile in comparison, especially for large cars with large engines and high fuel consumption.