Fuel prices: Small relief for WA drivers as fuel prices dip, motorists say there’s still a ‘long way to go’

West Aussie motorists have been offered a marginal reprieve at the bowser today as petrol prices retreated from record highs for the first time in weeks — but the small victory has done little to ease the mounting anxiety of a cost-of-living crisis. The average price of unleaded in Perth dipped 6¢ a litre today, falling to $2.44 from yesterday’s eye-watering $2.51. More relief is on the way as tomorrows average is set to fall again to $2.31. While any movement downward is welcomed, the reality remains grim for diesel drivers, who are currently staring down an average of $3.09 a litre. Diesel prices will also drop slightly tomorrow to $3.02 a litre. For 64-year-old David Burnett, the 6¢ drop is overdue but he said it barely touches the sides. “It’s about time,” Mr Burnett said. “The cost of living, fuel, it’s making it really hard on the average working class Australian — it is really really hard. “I’ll be thankful when it returns back to where we were before Trump threw bombs into the Middle East.” Filling up at Atlas Fuel in Ascot — which offered the metro area’s cheapest ULP at $2.11 — Mr Burnett said the price surge has forced him to change his long-held habits. “Normally I’d go to Costco but it’s too dear today so I came here,” he said. The minor price fall comes despite a 26¢ excise cut, a measure widely tipped to be devoured by price creep and volatile international markets. Experts are already warning that fuel deliveries to Australia could stall as early as late April, potentially triggering further supply shocks. For those reliant on diesel, the situation is even more dire. Don Smith, 69, has largely abandoned his car in favour of public transport to keep his budget afloat. “I’m not very pleased at the moment that I drive a diesel car,” Mr Smith said. “It’s rotten. I’ve been taking buses and trains and riding my bike to the train station.” Looking at the prices today, his optimism was tempered by reality. “It’s good to see, the change is only tiny though,” he said. “There’s a long way to go.” Georgie Taylor, a 26-year-old mechanical engineer, said the weekly ritual of refueling has become a source of significant financial stress. “I need to fill up my car every week and it’s costing upwards of $80 when it used to be around $50 to $60 a week,” Ms Taylor said.’ While she described the 6¢ drop as a “substantial amount” in the context of a full tank, she remains wary of the future. “It’s definitely a good thing because it’s been a bit hectic over the last few weeks,” she said. “Like this extra little bit will help pay for groceries. The savings will add up over time and be substantial... I just hope it doesn’t stay like this, it needs to keep coming down.” At lunchtime on Wednesday, 21 fuel stations across WA were reportedly out of unleaded, while 24 had run dry of diesel. There are currently 81 shiploads of fuel scheduled to arrive in Australia during April, with 53 of those currently in transit.