Hello again from the team at MotorMouth.

As the year rolls on with unstoppable force, last month we saw some pretty interesting gyrations in the fuel markets.

The benchmark price of unleaded in Singapore spiked to over $100 AUD per barrel which has seen the monthly average price of unleaded fuel over $1.25 per litre for the first time since October last year.

For those of you lucky enough to own diesel or LPG powered vehicles the price has been a lot more stable lately but it would seem that that they are creeping up as well.

Our poll last month really got people talking with over 1000 respondents clearly giving the big thumbs up to large scale fuel discounts in exchange for spending up big on groceries. What can I say - Australians really love a bargain!

There were some in the industry that saw this type of promotion as something that could be very damaging to truly independent service station owners who, when you think about it, are just like the local baker, or the local butcher, or the local newsagent.

The question that seems to need the most attention is: Will regular big discounts like this lessen competition over time? As a once off perhaps the answer is no, but what if every two weeks there was a big promotion like this?

Could small retailers compete with that sort of regular activity in the market? And if they could not, would that be a good or bad thing for motorists?

And that, my friends, is the $64,000 question.

Have a safe September.

Cheers
Sean Rennick
MotorMouth

If you have any suggestions then please send your feedback to
feedbackmotormouth.com.au

These articles proudly supplied by carsguide.

Wait for Subaru boxer diesel
The 2.0-litre Boxer diesel engine in the Impreza is claimed to achieve fuel economy of 5.9L/100km. [Read more]

Porsche Panamera around Oz: review
Paul Gover road tests and reviews the Porsche Panamera on the first leg of its 17,000km trip around Australia. [Read more]

Smart fortwo coupe mhd: review
Mark Hinchliffe road tests and review the Smart fortwo coupe mhd (micro-hybrid) and finds it weird. [Read more]

The average, lowest and the highest Unleaded prices for August 2009 in each city were:

The price leading service stations for Unleaded in each city in August 2009 were:

Brisbane	Service Station Matilda Address Dawson St & Lodge Rd Suburb Kalinga Average Price for month 123.1
Sydney	Service Station Metro Fuel Address 930 King Georges Rd Suburb Hurstville South Average Price for month 117.9
Melbourne	Service Station United Address Middleborough Rd & Fulton Rd Suburb Blackburn South Average Price for month 124.1
Adelaide	Service Station Liberty Address 25 Og Rd Suburb Klemzig Average Price for month 121.5
Perth	Service Station Coles Express Address 247 Walcott St & Fitzgerald St Suburb Mount Lawley Average Price for month 115.4
Hobart	Service Station Coles Exp Howrah Address 2 Howrah Rd Suburb Howrah Average Price for month 117.1
Darwin	Service Station Mobil Address Bagot Rd & Totem Rd Suburb Darwin Average Price for month 129.8
Canberra	Service Station BP Address 77 Canberra Av Suburb Kingston Average Price for month 126.1

The average, lowest and the highest Diesel prices for August 2009 in each city were:

The price leading service stations for Diesel in each city in August 2009 were:

Brisbane	Service Station Caltex/Woolworths Address Blunder Rd & Alban St Suburb Oxley Average Price for month 118.1
Sydney	Service Station Speedway Address 365 Elizabeth Dr Suburb Mount Pritchard Average Price for month 116.8
Melbourne	Service Station United Address 208-212 Bulleen Rd & Manningham Rd Suburb Bulleen Average Price for month 114.3
Adelaide	Service Station Caltex/Woolworths Pooraka Address 898 Main North Rd & Montague Rd Suburb Pooraka Average Price for month 116.7
Perth	Service Station United Address Feildman Dr & Gilmore Av Suburb Leda Average Price for month 119.7
Hobart	Service Station United Address 172 Clarence St Suburb Bellerive Average Price for month 122.7
Darwin	Service Station Mobil Address Bagot Rd & Totem Rd Suburb Darwin Average Price for month 130.0
Canberra	Service Station BP Address 289 Canberra Av Suburb Fyshwick Average Price for month 120.9

The average, lowest and the highest LPG prices for August 2009 in each city were:

The price leading service stations for LPG in each city in August 2009 were:

Brisbane	Service Station Freedom Fuels Address Rickertt Rd Suburb Thorneside Average Price for month 49.8
Sydney	Service Station Budget Address 208 New Canterbury Rd & Wardell Rd Suburb Petersham Average Price for month 45.9
Melbourne	Service Station Caltex/Woolworths Address 15-17 Manningham Rd & Bulleen Rd Suburb Bulleen Average Price for month 44.2
United	Service Station Liberty Address 369 Prospect Rd & Audrey Av Suburb Blair Athol Average Price for month 51.4
Perth	Service Station BP Address 330 Pinjarra Rd Suburb Mandurah Average Price for month 48.4
Hobart	Service Station United Glenorchy Address 436 Main Rd Suburb Glenorchy Average Price for month 61.9
Darwin	Service Station Mobil Address Bagot Rd & Totem Rd Suburb Darwin Average Price for month 75.7
Canberra	Service Station BP Address 289 Canberra Av Suburb Fyshwick Average Price for month 50.7

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.