Hello and welcome to the October edition of the MotorMouth Newsletter.

This month we take a look at the trend in service station numbers for the major capital cities.

The chart below shows Service Station market share by site numbers for metropolitan
Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth from 1993 to 2007.

(Click graph for full size view)

The overwhelming noise in the media is that small independents are being squeezed out by the major oil companies and the retailers with supermarket alliances. Whilst this is true to a certain degree there are parallels in other industries like:

• the disappearance of the corner store and smaller supermarket chains to be replaced by the likes of IGA and Foodworks and the growth in Convenience Stores both attached to Service Stations and standalone brands such as 7Eleven, Night Owl etc
• small motor repairers replaced by larger motor vehicle dealer servicing centres and brands like UltraTune

Whilst we have observed the closure of many smaller independents and major branded service stations typically dealer operated, over the past 10 years, we have also seen:

• a major increase in sites branded United, 7Eleven, Freedom Fuels (QLD),
  On the Run ( Adelaide), etc
• the emergence of Woolworths across the country
• the upgrading of major branded sites to provide a more diverse offer to consumers through their Shop with a greater range of products available: coffee, fast food, carwash, etc
• the development of larger sites into new population growth areas.

Is it competition? Is it evolution? Judge for yourself!

Until next month...

Alan Price
Marketing Manager - MotorMouth
apricemotormouth.com.au

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The average, lowest and the highest Unleaded prices for September 2007 in each city were:

The price leading service stations for Unleaded in each city in September 2007 were:

Brisbane	Service Station Caltex/Woolworths Address Manly Road Suburb Tingalpa Average Price for month 110.4
Sydney	Service Station Volume Plus Address corner Waldron Road and Campbell Hill Road Suburb Chester Hill Average Price for month 118.9
Melbourne	Service Station Coles Express Address corner Jacksons Road and Police Road Suburb Mulgrave Average Price for month 120.2
Adelaide	Service Station Coles Express Address corner Main North Road and McIntyre Road Suburb Salisbury East Average Price for month 118.3
Perth	Service Station United Address Wygonda Road Suburb Roleystone Average Price for month 118.1

The average, lowest and the highest Diesel prices for September 2007 in each city were:

The price leading service stations for Diesel in each city in September 2007 were:

Brisbane	Service Station United Address corner Johnson Road and Dickman Road Suburb Forestdale Average Price for month 119.3
Sydney	Service Station Volume Plus Address corner Ben Lomond Road and Brookfield Road Suburb Minto Average Price for month 124.9
Melbourne	Service Station Liberty Address corner Footscray Road and Moreland Street Suburb Footscray Average Price for month 125.9
Adelaide	Service Station Liberty Address corner O.G. Road and Yaralin Avenue Suburb Klemzig Average Price for month 130.6
Perth	Service Station Yule-Du Roadhouse Address Albany Highway Suburb Bedfordale Average Price for month 128.7

The average, lowest and the highest LPG prices for September 2007 in each city were:

The price leading service stations for LPG in each city in September 2007 were:

Brisbane	Service Station United Address corner Johnson Road and Dickman Road Suburb Forestdale Average Price for month 48.0
Sydney	Service Station Caltex/Woolworths Address 862 Hume Highway Suburb Bass Hill Average Price for month 46.5
Melbourne	Service Station Caltex/Woolworths Address corner Mountain Highway and View Road Suburb Bayswater Average Price for month 42.9
Adelaide	Service Station United Address corner Tapleys Hill Road and Morley Road Suburb Seaton Average Price for month 50.7
Perth	Service Station Coles Express Address Guildford Road Suburb Mt Lawley Average Price for month 43.4

MotorMouth is committed to helping Australian motorists get a better deal on fuel by providing them with free and easily accessible information on fuel prices.

Reproduction of the whole or part of this email constitutes an infringement of copyright. All information published in this email is intended to be used for your personal use only and can not be used for commercial use without the prior written consent of MotorMouth Pty Ltd. For data sales enquiries please contact salesmotormouth.com.au