German Minister Proposes Capping Fuel Price Hikes at Gas Stations

Brandenburg's Transport Minister Robert Crumbach is advocating for a federal law to limit fuel price increases at gas stations, proposing a maximum cap of five percent for the daily price adjustment. Crumbach argues that the current "12-hour rule," which permits only one price change per day at noon, is insufficient to curb significant price jumps.

He stated that these midday price hikes often erase the benefits of government relief measures, such as the approximately 17-cent per liter fuel discount. "If the federal government is serious about fair fuel prices, it must follow up: the price increase at 12:00 p.m. must be legally limited – for example, to a maximum of five percent," Crumbach urged, appealing to the federal government to strengthen the existing regulation.

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The 12-hour rule is a start, but it does not reliably stop price jumps at the pump. The federal government advertises a fuel discount of around 17 cents per liter, at the same time we see increases at 12:00 p.m. that eat up this relief in one fell swoop.

Despite Crumbach's proposal, Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck has repeatedly rejected the idea of a fuel price cap. The 12-hour rule, in effect since April 1, allows gas stations to adjust prices only once daily at noon, though price reductions are always permitted. This regulation aims to increase transparency but does not prevent prices from rising.

Recent data from the ADAC indicates that fuel costs were significantly lower for drivers in May, attributed to the fuel discount and a decrease in crude oil prices. This followed a period in April when fuel prices were higher, partly due to a sharp increase in crude oil prices driven by the Iran conflict.

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If the federal government is serious about fair fuel prices, it must follow up: the price increase at 12:00 p.m. must be legally limited – for example, to a maximum of five percent. Therefore, I appeal to the federal government to tighten the 12-hour rule accordingly.