Tiphaine Dubuard // Photo credit: Marie Magnin / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP 6:20 a.m., March 8, 2024

As fuel prices start to rise again, the threshold for triggering the fuel check could soon be exceeded.

But for the moment, Bercy refuses to consider this scenario while Bruno Le Maire has just announced 10 billion euros in savings for 2024. 

Fuel prices are rising again.

That of diesel is spared for the moment, but those of unleaded 95 and 98 have increased by three to four cents per liter over the past month.

The 100 euro fuel check which has not been mentioned since the end of last year by the government could well resurface.

But in the meantime, the situation has changed.

For the Minister of Economy and Finance, it is time to save money.

A threshold of 1.95 euros per liter

The 100 euro fuel check was first to be paid at the beginning of this year, it was finally conditioned on the level of fuel prices.

Last December, Bruno Le Maire set a trigger threshold at 1.95 euros per liter.

This week, the unleaded 98 came close, but on the Bercy side, it is out of the question to mention the fuel check at this stage.

The entourage of the Minister of Economy and Finance opts for the Coué method.

“No price surge planned,” he simply replied to Europe 1.

European elections, an issue 

However, this system could be a welcome boost according to Eric Pichet, economist specializing in public finances.

"There is the political aspect which is very important, we are not far from the European elections. I believe that the French will understand immediately if they receive the 100 euros, that it goes into their pocket and that it helps to reduce the price of gasoline, so it’s a good strategy just before the elections…”, analyzes the specialist.

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For the government, the problem would rather be financial.

Last year, the check was distributed to more than 4 million households for a total cost of 430 million euros.

If it is triggered this year, it will cost a little more, because during the examination of the 2024 finance bill, an amendment expanded the number of beneficiaries.

The envelope could therefore swell and reach 600 million euros.