Australian drivers are experiencing a sharp increase in petrol prices in this October with the prices going up by 15-20 cents per litre than last month. The average price of pumps is currently floating at over 2.00 per litre in the major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and this is one of the highest increases made on the price of pumps in a month in recent history. The hikes are even higher in the regional areas where the transport and supply cost are increased by additional premiums that further strain the household and business budgets.
Significant Causes of the Prices Increase
– International oil market instability: Oil prices have recently shot up on several occasions because of Middle East tensions and OPEC+ supply choices, rapidly pushing wholesale prices up.
– Exchange rate changes: The Australian dollar experienced a weakened position against US dollar which increased the cost of imported fuel hence contributing to the increase in pump prices.
– Domestic excise and inflation: With an increase in the excise duty and inflation-related adjustments, the base price of petrol rose, and this affected affordability of ordinary people in Australia.
– Pressures on the supply chain: Retail price structure was further complicated by higher refining and logistics expenses, as well as, global shipping routes disruption.
How Petrol Costs in October 2025?
| State | Sep 2025 Avg | Oct 2025 Avg | Increase per Litre |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales (NSW) | $1.88 | $2.05 | +17c |
| Victoria (VIC) | $1.85 | $2.02 | +17c |
| Queensland (QLD) | $1.80 | $1.96 | +16c |
| Western Australia (WA) | $1.82 | $1.99 | +17c |
| South Australia (SA) | $1.84 | $2.00 | +16c |
Drivers in the urban areas are charged the most rates whereas regional and town areas are normally affected by distribution overheads.
Broader Implication on the Australian Households
– Family budgets, transport operators and small businesses are being affected by increased fuel bills.
– An increase in transport costs would be increasing the prices of grocery and delivery, which propagate the inflation.
– A lot of drivers are also reacting to carpool, take the bus, and check fuel prices by app to save money when they can.
