Hello again from the team at MotorMouth.

Well hasn’t 2009 flown by? Before we sign off for 2009 a word of advice about buying fuel over Christmas, particularly in areas where the price of fuel is subject to the weekly price cycle.

Last year, Christmas Day was on a Thursday. So on Christmas Eve, the average price of unleaded across Australia was 100.1 cents per litre. On Christmas Day, the average price was 112.9 – which to any MotorMouth subscriber looks just like a normal weekly jump in the price.

In the many years that we have been monitoring fuel prices in Australia, we are yet to see any examples of motorists being ripped at Christmas, Easter, Chinese New Year, Hanukkah or the like. If anyone tries to, it doesn’t take very long before they have to bring their prices back to the market because the customers stop filling up.

So when Christmas this year falls on a Friday, don’t be surprised that on Christmas Eve the price of fuel has jumped. If you fill up on Tuesday or Wednesday you should get a good price. Top up on Thursday if you need to before the big trip.

Before I go, think about this. Picture someone you know; a fellow motorist setting off on Christmas Day. They get lost, the air conditioning breaks down and they are trying desperately to remain calm with a car full of people at each other’s throats about the Christmas present they didn’t like.

Anyone in this situation could be forgiven for making a mistake on the road – so look out for your fellow motorist who might be at their wit’s end. See if you can help them get there in one piece.

We’re taking a break over the next few weeks, so from the team here have a safe Christmas and a terrific New Year. Our regular newsletter will go out as per normal in early January and you’ll hear from me again in February.

Cheers
Sean Rennick
MotorMouth

feedbackmotormouth.com.au