Cheaper petrol in time for holidays

PETROL stations around France are expected to cut their prices this week, in time for the summer holiday getaway which begins on Friday.

Unleaded and diesel should drop by up to three centimes per litre, as distributors pass on the savings from a decline in crude oil prices.

Leclerc is the first to pass the price cut on to customers, from this morning. Total, Esso, Shell and Auchan have agreed to do the same in the coming days.

A study by the French competition watchdog DGCCRF last month found drivers were not benefitting when the price of crude oil fell, because petrol stations kept the extra margin for themselves.

Finance minister Christine Lagarde has considered forcing distributors to cut their prices if the practice continued.

Many families in France will be taking to the road this weekend as the summer holidays get under way.