Benzinpreise in Deutschland steigen schneller als in Nachbarländern: Auswirkungen der neuen 12-Uhr-Regel

Increase in Gas Prices in Germany

In recent days, the price development for gasoline in Germany has noticeably increased. According to data from the EU Commission, the price for super gasoline rose by about 11 cents in the week from March 30 to April 6, while neighboring EU countries generally recorded only minor increases. Only Denmark managed to keep pace with an increase of about 9 cents, while prices even fell in countries like Poland and Austria. These discrepancies are primarily due to government interventions.

The 12 PM Rule and Its Consequences

A significant factor contributing to the price increase in Germany could be the newly introduced 12 PM rule by the federal government. This regulation allows gas stations to raise prices only once a day, while price reductions can occur at any time. Critics fear that this measure could not lower prices but might even raise them. The argument is that gas stations could adjust prices at noon „in advance,“ leading to a disproportionate increase.

In fact, the ADAC noted price jumps of more than 10 cents on average nationwide in the first days after the rule was introduced. However, whether this development is directly linked to the 12 PM rule remains unclear. A spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Economics stated that it is still too early to make a well-founded assessment of the regulation.

Diesel Prices and International Comparisons

Interestingly, the significant price increase has so far only been observed in gasoline. While diesel prices have also risen during the same period, Germany does not stand out significantly from other countries when excluding countries with similar government measures like Poland and Austria.

Overall, the current developments raise questions about the competitiveness of the German market and demonstrate how government interventions in the pricing process of raw materials can long-term influence market mechanisms and the attractiveness of the location. Investors should keep an eye on the impacts of such regulations on the profitability of oil companies and overall market stability.