March was the first month in which fuel prices fell below the same period last year since the start of the Ukraine war. The ADAC assumes nationwide average values ​​of a good 1.76 euros for E10 premium petrol and just under 1.72 euros for diesel. For diesel, that would be a good 42 cents less than a year ago, for E10 more than 30 cents.

The strong year-on-year decline is mainly due to the fact that March 2022 was the most expensive month ever for fuel. Gasoline has become slightly more expensive since the beginning of the year, while diesel has become cheaper. This also continued in March. "The expected normalization is progressing and I believe that it will continue," said ADAC fuel market expert Jürgen Albrecht.

Prices could fall further

On a long-term average, diesel was around 15 cents cheaper than E10 before the outbreak of the Ukraine war. On Thursday, the diesel price was 1.688 euros per liter, 9.1 cents below the 1.779 euros due for the E10. The complete Friday prices have not yet been included in the evaluation, but can no longer change the monthly average in a relevant way, especially since there was no major movement until Friday noon.

At the beginning of the Easter holidays, prices were at a rather high level compared to the price of oil, said Albrecht. He advises: "If you're going on a trip, it's best to fill up the tank the evening before, it's cheaper."

It is difficult to predict how fuel prices will develop in the longer term, but Albrecht sees "there is still room for downwards movement" in the prices for diesel and gasoline, as he says. "So there is definitely hope that fuel will be a few cents cheaper by the summer - if the competitive forces take effect and nothing out of the ordinary happens."