French petrol prices rise to new record level

Petrol prices in France have risen for the third consecutive week to reach new record levels according to official figures. Prices for diesel fuel have also increased although remain below the highest level reached in 2008. 

Getty Images/James Hardy

Figures from the Ministry of Sustainable Development show the price of normal unleaded petrol rose to 1,58 euros a litre while the higher grade, super-unleaded, rose to 1,62 euros a litre. Diesel is now at 1,42 euros a litre and is inching closer to the record of 1,45 euros a litre of spring 2008.

Since the end of 2011, two factors have pushed up oil prices – instability in oil producing nations like Nigeria and Iran and the weakness of the euro against the dollar.

On Sunday, Tehran announced is was stopping oil sales to France and Britain seen as the countries most strongly behind European sanctions against Iran. The move was largely symbolic as both countries stopped buying Iranian oil at the end of 2011.

But it could put further pressure on oil prices as fears increase of tension in the Hormuz Straits which transports 15 million barrels of oil per day.

Consumption of diesel fuel accounts for 80 per cent of all sales of petrol in France, and unleaded and super-unleaded, 15 and 5 per cent respectively.