Average price of gasoline and diesel at the pump ends 2018 top | Economy

According to published data Wednesday (2) by the National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), the average price of gasoline at the pump was $ 4,344 per liter last week and $ 3,451 per liter diesel. With that, three days from the end of the year, prices accumulated in 2018 to respective highs of 5.97% and 3.75%.

The value of gasoline and diesel in pumps represents an average of the prices calculated by the ANP from the data collected in the stations and can therefore vary according to the regions.

The highs are higher than the expected inflation for 2018, of 3.69%, according to the report "Focus" of the Central Bank. The estimate takes into account the general index of consumer prices (IPCA), the official inflation of the country.

The increase comes in the context of the decline in fuel values ​​in refineries. According to data provided by Petrobras and compiled by Reuters, the average price of gasoline in refineries has fallen until Friday (28) of nearly 11% in 2018, to settle at 1 R $ 5087 per liter. In the case of diesel, the withdrawal is about 4.6%, valued at R $ 1.8088.

• The reductions are part of Petrobras' tariff policy, which aims to meet the demands of the economy.

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• international awards. For example, the oil company rebalances fuel values ​​almost daily, depending on factors such as the exchange rate and the price of a barrel of oil. The transfer or not of the adjustments to the final consumer depends on the stations.

According to Petrobras' latest calculation, the price charged by the company to refineries represents less than a third (28%) of the value paid by consumers.

In November, the ANP asked major fuel distributors to clarify why the reduction in the price of gasoline in refineries was not pbaded on to the end consumer.

At the time, the numbers suggested that positions were increasing their profit margins. In November, 18% of the final price corresponded to the costs and profits of distributors and service stations (compared with 14% the previous month). In December, this slice returned to 14%, but remains above the levels recorded in the first half. In May, for example, it was 12%.