Manji fuel prices above SW average
THE gap between the average unleaded petrol prices in Manjimup and metropolitan areas more than doubled in 2014, reaching a difference of 18.9 cents in December.
FuelWatch data revealed the average unleaded petrol price in Manjimup ranged in difference between 3.7 cents and 5.4 cents with the South West average price.
Since January last year, prices in Manjimup have dropped 18.3 cents to 145.3 cents and in Bridgetown-Greenbushes, the price has dropped 14.6 cents to 148.6 cents a litre.
In January and February last year, Bridgetown-Greenbushes prices were lower than Manjimup, a trend which has been reversed.
FuelWatch manager Lynne Gould said a sharp decline in the international benchmark petrol price since October had caused the price falls.
"Price movements in regional WA generally follow that of metro Perth, with a lag of up to four weeks," she said.
"That is one cause for there to be a marked gap in metro and Manjimup prices, as the regional areas are still lagging behind.
"We would expect the gap between Manjimup and metro prices to shrink to a more typical gap."
Ms Gould said the four main reasons petrol was more expensive in the country was due to lower sales volumes, less competition, transport and storage costs and lower convenience store sales.
"Lower sales volume requires regional sites to sell with a higher margin to cover costs," she said.
Manjimup shire president Wade De Campo said he did not think it was justified that Manjimup petrol prices were above the South West average.
"We are a large commercial centre and as such, I feel we should be on par with the South West average," he said.
Cr De Campo said he was pleased the petrol price in the region was decreasing.
"It assists in getting people into the region and consider intrastate holidays, rather than interstate or international holidays," he said.
"I still think there is room for improvement for a larger decrease in petrol prices in Manjimup and the surrounding districts."
Ms Gould said there would be further petrol price falls in the next two to four weeks.
