No cost-of-living relief in sight as Perth’s fuel costs hit their highest monthly average

It’s never been more expensive to buy fuel in Perth than in October, with data showing the monthly bowser price average is at its highest right now.

Fuel Watch data shows the monthly average price for unleaded petrol in the metro area — which has been climbing upwards since the start of the year — reached a new peak of $2.37 a litre this month, up from $1.68 a litre in January.

Last week, unleaded petrol in the metro area soared to a new average weekly high of $2.45 a litre on Wednesday.

And while average prices have since dipped with the weekly cycle, motorists are bracing for another likely hike this Wednesday as prices edge closer to breaking through $2.50 a litre.

Despite the slight drop ahead of cheap Tuesday, some Perth service stations will still be charging as much as $2.38 a litre for unleaded fuel on Monday, while the lowest in town is $2.30.

The monthly average for diesel prices dropped to $2.76 a litre in October after peaking at $2.93 in April, with the metro price now sitting at $2.68 for Monday.

As well as hitting motorists’ hip pockets, fuel prices are continuing to add to the escalating costs of the shopping in their supermarket trolleys.

WA Transport Industry Association chief executive Cam Dumesny warned that diesel prices were expected to remain high for the rest of this year and well into next year.

“So that’s not going to help inflation and cost-of-living pressures for consumers,” he said.

“The structural price of diesel will remain high throughout 2027. When you look at it, our trains use diesel, so it affects fuel in both trucks and trains, but also shipping.”

Mr Dumesny said compounding the problem for WA was the fact it had only one railway line and one main road linking it to the east coast.

“And we’ve got high soil moisture content across both the rail and the road networks, which is a risk going into summer,” he said.

Mr Dumesny said the rail line or roads could be cut off by flooding if there were more big downpours. And if rail transport was halted, more goods would need to be moved by road, which was more expensive.

“So that could drive up costs for WA businesses and consumers,” he said.