Germany's ADAC motoring association has said that a rule in force since April 1 allowing gas stations to raise fuel prices only once a day, at noon, has failed to help drivers and "should therefore be abolished." Although the rule had greatly reduced the number of price changes throughout a day and made increases easier to predict, the gap between the highest and lowest prices had increased, the ADAC said.

It also said motorists who needed to buy gas shortly after noon, when gas stations have typically jacked up prices, were faced with unjustifiably higher costs. An economic research institute, ZEW, also found in April that prices were higher on average after the rule was introduced, with fuel prices generally going up after noon and cheaper in the morning.

Fuel prices in Germany and Europe in general have skyrocketed amid the war in the Middle East. The ADAC reported that average gas prices in Germany hit a record high on Thursday, reaching €2.308 for a liter of super E10 and €2.471 for a liter of diesel ($9.98/US gallon and $10.69/US gallon, respectively).

In its statement, the ADAC, however, welcomed the government's temporary reduction in the energy tax that is planned to go into force on October 1, saying it was the most realistic way to lower the burden on motorists. The April rule has not delivered relief.

Meanwhile, a lifesaving association has sad news after the unusually warm summer, with more drowning deaths from May to mid-September in Germany than in the same period last year. These and other stories continue to dominate headlines in Germany.

Source: www.dw.com