Dollar per liter

Gasoline prices got out of control

* * On the pipe. Gasoline prices are growing rapidly: from the beginning of January - by almost 3%. Why motorists have to fork out more and more at the gas stations - the New Times found out

AI-92 gasoline is the most running fuel, today on average the country costs 24.17 rubles. per liter: Since the beginning of the year, its price has risen by 2%. Rosstat notes that during this period diesel fuel has risen in price by 2.3%, and low-octane gasolines AI-76, AI-80-by 2.7%. Analysts of the Cortes Information Center calculated: if such a price of rise in price remain, then by the end of the year gasoline of different brands will increase in price by 50–75%.
The effect is worse than the forecast
Rosstat recorded an increase in gasoline prices in 66 regional centers, and most significantly they rose in Kirov - immediately 6.5% since the beginning of the year. The situation in the capital and other megacities is also depressing: in January, the prices of fuel in Moscow rose by almost 3%, in St. Petersburg - by 2.5%.
It is curious that over the past year, gasoline on average in Russia has risen in price by only 6.5% - this is even lower than the inflation level (8.8%). And since the end of December, the prices of gas stations have broken off the chain. Cause? In December 2010, oil began to rise sharply in world markets, experts indicate, reaching a symbolic mark of $ 100 per barrel. One trouble: when the barrel is getting cheaper, for some reason the prices of gas stations are in no hurry to decrease.
In the reality, there is no direct dependence of gasoline prices on oil. According to the Russian fuel union, the structure of gasoline price indicates that its main components are the margin of the processor and taxes. In other words, oil companies that belong to oil refineries (refineries) and a state establishing taxes are equally claimed to the role of the main “villain”.
Just the fiscal policy of the state contributed to the current take -off of prices for gas stations, experts say. The fact is that from January 1, 2011, the Ministry of Finance increased the excise tax on gasoline by 1 ruble. According to the authors of the idea, this “extra” ruble should go to the road fund that is now being formed, that is, to be used for laying and repairing roads. The result of the tax innovation was predictable: gasoline began to rise intensively.
“The cost effect is superior to forecasts,” says Pavel Strokov from the Cortes information center . - They thought that manufacturers would extinguish the rise in prices at the expense of their own profit, but they did not offer any mechanisms that encourage this. Accordingly, no one does it. ”
Grigory Sergienko, Executive Director of the Russian Fuel Union , is not surprised by the high pace with which gasoline is getting more expensive: “All the reasoning that Russia is an oil producing power and we should cost gasoline cheaply from the evil one. There is no other source for replenishing the budget, except for excise taxes: this is the most reliable tax. Here the government involves him. ”

Very victim
The authorities, having authorized the increase in automobile fuel prices, sacrificed not only 35 million motorists, but the entire population, said Leonid Olshansky, vice president of the Russian motorists . There is no need to have an economist’s diploma to understand: the January take -off of prices for gas stations will inevitably accelerate the growth rate of inflation, he is convinced.
The current rise in gas prices did not go unnoticed by state bodies. On January 25, at a meeting of the State Duma, several committees immediately initiated the adoption of a protocol order to the government: to understand the prices of the fuel and lubricants market. “The price of motor fuel amounted to more than 26 thousand rubles per ton in a number of regions. This situation in the period of preparation for spring field work is not justified. A cartel conspiracy is visible, caused by the abuse of the dominant position of business entities, ” Valentin Denisov is indignant at the chairman of the State Duma Committee on Agrarian issues of the State Duma .
On the alleged violators - oil companies - deputies want to set the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS). At the end of spring - early summer last year, this measure was effective: the FAS then imposed record fines on oil companies - over 20 billion rubles, and fuel prices were really stabilized (see The New Times No. 18 of May 31, 2010). And now the head of the antimonopoly department, Igor Artemyev, has already expressed his readiness to initiate affairs against the largest oil companies "in connection with the manipulations in the market and abuse of the dominant position."
In anticipation of the hour X
Experts interviewed by The New Times doubt the ability of the FAS once and for all to solve the problem of monopoly prices at gas stations. “The state elects the old way: first, with its fiscal solutions, it provokes the increase in gas prices, and then the FAS will fines with his hands,” Pavel Strokov from Cortes is sure. - At the same time, the budget will receive its budget in any case: the FAS began to win such processes. But consumers, apparently, will remain hostages of people with “pistols”. Gasoline.
Fuel, experts are sure, will continue to rise in price. Oil companies will not calm down until they bring prices to the level of European ones. There, recall, a liter of the 95th now costs € 1.2-almost 50 rubles. “If Russia joins the WTO, they will directly demand the equality of world and domestic fuel prices,” says Grigory Sergienko, recalling that joining this organization may happen this year.
The ICS hour will come in the spring, Pavel Strokov is sure: “The demand for gasoline begins to grow in March - under sowing - and reaches a peak in May. It was at this time, in the wake of demand, the oilmen will take up gasoline. ” Probably, the government will respond to this threat in the traditional way - “freezing” prices for farmers, says Dmitry Alexandrov from the “University of Capital” . “The government has an option to introduce administrative regulation,” agrees Grigory Sergienko. “But this will drop us 15 years ago, in the 90s, and destroy the business of oil companies.”
According to Pavel Strokova, by spring, the price of gasoline AI-95 on average in Russia will increase to 26.6–27 rubles. per liter. And in the Moscow region and more - up to 28 rubles. per liter. The bar for 2011 is determined, the expert believes - $ 1 per liter. Meanwhile, for many car owners, 30 rubles. per liter of gasoline, which prices for gas stations are now inexorably approaching, an important psychological barrier. According to a survey conducted by Superjob.ru by the research center of the portal, about 25% of car owners are ready to put the car for a joke if the price of gasoline exceeds 30 rubles. per liter. Another 15% - at the price of gasoline above 40 rubles, and 5% of respondents said that they had already done this, considering the current prices for themselves excessively high.