Fuel, adjustments started in 87% of plants but more than a thousand raise prices
The Ministry of Enterprise carried out two surveys. The first, in the morning, showed that 11.4% of the plants had increased their prices. An improving situation, considering that in the afternoon survey the figure more than halved to 4.5% of the total
by Lorenzo Pace
With more than 36 hours to go before the excise cut decree comes into force, it is not enough just to monitor whether distributors have lowered their prices enough. It should be monitored whether they have actually lowered them. Because some have even raised them.
How many have raised them
The Ministry of Enterprise carried out two surveys. The first, in the morning, showed that 11.4 per cent of the plants had increased their prices. An improving situation, considering that in the afternoon survey the figure more than halved to 4.5% of the total. This means about a thousand distributors.
Mr Prezzi's controls
The Garante per la sorveglianza dei prezzi, i.e. Mr Prezzi (strengthened in the decree passed on Wednesday), has forwarded the list of these distributors to the Guardia di Finanza, so that "the necessary controls can be carried out under the new special regime provided for in the decree-law approved by the government. The results of the checks will also be transmitted to the Antitrust Authority for the possible initiation of sanctioning proceedings and, in cases where profiles of criminal relevance emerge, to the judicial authorities'.
Those who stayed put and those who adapted
At the same time, the number of stations that lowered their prices increased. Compared to 12,107 stations in the morning, this figure increased to about 17,400, or 87% of the total.
