6 Nov 2012

Retail petrol prices lower in some places

5:27 am on 6 November 2012

Motorists in some provincial centres are paying less for their petrol as a result of competition.

Z Energy, BP, Mobil and Caltex lowered the retail price of 91 octane by three cents a litre on Monday, the third reduction in a fortnight.

The price at most pumps is now down to $2.09 per litre.

However, in Masterton, Gull began charging $2 per litre a month ago.

The Automobile Association says pricing competition is similar in other centres including Palmerston North, Whangarei and Rotorua.

It says Gull has the cheapest fuel prices in the country, partly because it sells ethanol blended petrol, which attracts a tax rebate.

It also has some unmanned stations which are cheaper to operate.

But Gull says it's unlikely to extend the price in Masterton to all its stations because it would not be profitable.