Fill Up Your Tank Before the Long Weekend...

BY JESSICA ROUSE

If you need to top up your tank, you'd better do it before the long weekend as petrol prices are expected to rise.

According to the NRMA it's good news for Hunter motorists right now with Newcastle the 10th cheapest in the state to fill up, but not as cheap as Maitland which is the 8th cheapest.

NRMA Regional Corporate Affairs Adviser Helen Machalias believes we are quite lucky in the Hunter as far as price goes, but what happens after the long weekend is anybody's guess.

"So we expect that it will peak over the long weekend and then we'll just have to see what the prices are like after that."

The NRMA also stress that shopping around is the key to getting the best bang for your petrol buck.

"We encourage Hunter motorists to use the NRMA app to shop around because it allows you to compare petrol prices either along the route that your taking when your travelling or just in your local area," said Helen Machalias. 

As of this morning you could get Unleaded for 118.2 at the Rutherford Puma, or 117.9 at the Metro in Islington.

To shop around head to https://www.fuelcheck.nsw.gov.au/App/

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Price of Petrol set to drop in Newcastle

By JAMES WARD

Petrol prices are set to drop below a $1 dollar per litre in coming weeks across Newcastle according to the NRMA

Service stations around Newcastle could be seen selling e10 petrol for around 101 cents per litre on Wednesday but prices are set to drop even further due to a decrease in crude oil prices and a rise in the Australian dollar.

NRMA chairman, Kyle Loades, says motorists can be the beneficiaries of cheaper fuel in the coming weeks due to a number of factors.

"Petrol pricing over the last week has dropped by about 15 cents per litre on the back of international crude oil pricing coming down and the Aussie dollar rising meaning the pump price has reduced which is great news for motorists," Loades stated.

If the prices were to drop lower than a dollar per litre it would be the first time since early 2016.

NRMA also predict the more competition of service stations in an area, odds are that you will find cheaper fuel.

"Good examples are Charlestown and Islington where there are two or three service stations, other areas where there are also two or three is where you should shop if you simply go to one location which is isolated odds are it will be more expensive."

The price of fuel will go lower than the dollar value but won't go much lower than that so motorists should take advantage of the lower prices now.

Photo courtesy Equal Access Pty Ltd

Soaring petrol prices in the Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Hunter commuters are still paying top dollar at the bowser with prices in the region higher than the state average.

Prices shot up in the past week, jumping an average 6 cents per litre around the state, but in the Hunter prices have been up to 10 cents higher than the average.

A number of petrol stations increased their prices overnight to 144.3 cents and higher, with the wholesale price 20 cents cheaper than what we are paying.

NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury says there is a reprieve on its way and prices should start to fall.

"We expect prices to fall, they should've started falling and they should fall. The gap between the retail and the wholesale price is - certainly in Newcastle's case - about 20 cents per litre on average. That gives you an idea of the profit margins the major oil companies are making and we think the fall should happen to around 120 cents per litre."

NSW Government website FuelCheck and the fuel app is just one way commuters can find the cheapest fuel in the region.

Petrol price hike in the Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

With Christmas fast approaching, petrol prices in the Hunter are rising even further with an NRMA study finding Maitland has had the highest price hike in the past week, with unleaded petrol rising 11.6 cents per litre.

Prices at the bowser Goulburn isn't far behind with a 6.8 cent rise and Muswellbrook isn't much better averaging a 6.5 cent per litre price rise.

Regional areas across the state are experiencing higher than usual price rises with Buladelah paying 135.4 for unleaded and Gundagai paying not much less, 135.2.

E10 fears unnecessary, says NRMA

Hunter drivers are being encouraged not to abandon E10 fuel in favour of the more expensive premium unleaded petrol.

A recent report shows NSW motorists have been scared off amid concerns the ethanol-based petrol causes engine damage and is not cost-efficient.

However NRMA Hunter Director, KYLE LOADES believes people are making the switch unnecessarily, saying most modern cars are made to run on E10.

"A lot of motor mechanics give out misleading information," Mr Loades said, "I'd encourage all drivers to call NRMA get the advice that their car is E10 suitable."