Petrol more expensive in tourist coastline

Gasoline cost 5 Albanian Lek (ALL) higher in Vlor묠(south-east, coastal), than in Tirana, the capital of Albania, over the last week, reports the local press (Agon, 22.06.2009). Euro diesel fetched in Vlor렱 to 2 Albanian Lek (ALL) more than in the capital city. “Fuel prices vary visibly from town to town. Summer season has stimulated their increase, especially in coastal cities, where demand for fuels is higher during this season,” writes Aura Bufasi, who explains that the summer price increase is a yearly phenomenon in seaside cities, where importers and per-gallon sellers take advantage of tourist numbers and the homecoming of Albanian migrants, who swell demand for and consumption of fuels.
Besides the local seasonal increase, the press reports a general increase of fuel prices, though prices may have gone through a yo-yo cycle of up and down. Bufasi reports that fuel price increases affect directly the families’ budget and quotes data from the National Institute of Statistics (INSTAT), estimating that the increase of fuel prices has exerted pressure on the cost of living. According to the newspaper, the “Index of the Transportation Group” marked a 0.4 % increase for the month of May, with petrol climbing by 0.6 % and while gasoline moved up by 2.5 %. During June, fuel prices have continued the increase, with small and partial adjustments.