The president of the Central Association of German Crafts (ZDH), Jörg Dittrich, welcomed the ban on multiple daily price hikes at German petrol stations announced by Economy Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU). He also urged further measures.
“Good that Minister Reiche wants to put a lid on repeated daily price increases at petrol stations” Dittrich told the “Rheinische Post” in its Thursday edition. “Such a manageable intervention won’t overburden any oil company. Price adjustments will still be possible, but on clearer trajectories and with less volatility, which makes planning easier for crafts businesses”.
He cautioned against setting unrealistic expectations for the price effects. “Fuel prices are subject to many taxes and charges, and crude oil is invoiced in U.S. dollars, so exchange‑rate movements also play a role. All of this dampens the impact of individual market interventions”.
Nonetheless, the minister’s decision signals a hope that frequent price spikes will be subdued and the market will calm, especially in today’s highly volatile environment. Dittrich stressed that the antitrust review of the petrol‑station market must continue in parallel.