12 Cent günstiger: Regierung reaktiviert Spritpreisbremse

The Austrian federal government is taking action to alleviate fuel costs for drivers amidst rising prices. On Wednesday in Vienna, they decided to renew the fuel price brake for October and November, reducing the cost of gasoline and diesel by more than twelve cents per liter. This measure is a response to the recent price surge, attributed to the escalation in the Middle East and the resulting "Trumpflation" by Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler (SPÖ).

The government's relief package consists of two main components: a 6.7 cent per liter reduction in the mineral oil tax, bringing it down to the EU's minimum, and a 3.5 cent per liter reduction in oil companies' profit margins. The combined effect of these changes, along with a reduced value-added tax, results in an overall relief of over twelve cents per liter.

This fuel fill-up would save commuters and families around five euros. A similar fuel rebate has been agreed upon by the German federal government and states, with the federal fuel tax being reduced by 14 cents per liter, leading to an overall relief of nearly seventeen cents per liter. However, economists criticize the diesel rebate for being expensive, imprecise, and supporting those who do not need assistance.

It also dampens the intended effect of high prices reducing demand for scarce goods. The debate surrounding diesel rebates is ongoing, with economists questioning how much of the savings have actually reached consumers in the past. The oil industry disputes these claims, but the government maintains that the relief package is necessary to prevent potential price spikes and maintain supply security without compromising competition.