Düsseldorf competition expert Justus Haucap cautions against over‑optimistic expectations for the new Fuel Adjustment Act, which aims to bring fuel prices down. The law intends to impose a one‑time‑a‑day rule for price increases at pumps, a measure Haucap said could simplify price comparison for motorists, according to the “Rheinische Post”. However, whether it will result in lasting price reductions remains to be seen. “The evidence so far is rather mixed” he added, noting that the real leverage lies with refineries rather than service stations.
Haucap urged a realistic outlook. “When global oil supply tightens and prices fluctuate wildly, German drivers cannot hope to be insulated from those shifts. The chance that gasoline prices rise again is an inherent risk of life that society can and must accept, even if it is unpleasant” he explained. He warned against panicking over the steep hikes that followed the recent Iran conflict, suggesting instead that people keep a calm perspective.
The Fuel Adjustment Act will be discussed in its first reading in the Bundestag this Thursday.