Israel's Gas Prices To Fall Sharply For Second Successive Month

By Globes
Posted on 08/30/22 | News Source: Globes

Oil prices have fallen over the past month, the shekel has strengthened and Minister of Finance Avigdor Liberman hopes to extend the NIS 1 per liter excise cut.

Gasoline prices in Israel are set to fall sharply for the second successive month. Estimates are that the maximum price of government price controlled 95 octane gasoline per liter at self-service pumps in Israel will fall by between NIS 0.20-0.40, on Wednesday night at midnight, September 1 to NIS 6.18-6.38. On August 1, gasoline prices fell by NIS 1.50 per liter to NIS 6.58.

The price of a barrel of oil on world markets has been volatile and after many ups and downs is currently priced at $101 per barrel, similar to the end of July. However, the Ministry of National Infrastructures, Energy and Water Resources calculates the maximum price in Israel according to the average price of oil over the last week of the month, which was slightly lower than the last week of July. Another factor is that the shekel has strengthened 3.9% against the dollar over the past month.

However, what remains unclear about the price of gasoline is the excise tax. Minister of Finance only obtained approval for the NIS 1 per liter cut in excise for August. Liberman is currently working around the clock to overcome legal issues and extend the excise cut until November 15, two weeks after the elections, which was part of his original plan.