BERLIN, June 02 (ABC): Prices at the pumps dipped across Germany and commuters began paying just nine euros ($9.60) a month for public transport, as inflation-relief measures in Europe’s biggest economy kicked in on Wednesday.
With consumer price hikes striking new records in recent months following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Germany is unleashing 30 billion euros from its coffers to help residents and businesses cope.
Among the measures most eagerly awaited by consumers was a fuel tax cut reaching around 30 cents a litre for petrol and 14 cents for diesel.
In Berlin, drivers said they were pleasantly surprised to see the immediate impact on pump prices, which fell below two euros a litre.
Filling up at a station where petrol was down to 1.88 euros a litre and diesel at 1.87 euros, Niklas Gelauer welcomed the step.
“The difference in pump prices is big. I can’t do without a car, so before this I waited until evenings to fill up the tank as the prices are cheaper then,” the 20-year-old said.
Health worker Veronika Scholz, 48, said she’d had to rely more on public transport lately because driving had become too expensive.
“It’s good that (petrol prices) are cheaper now. Because the prices had been so high lately, I have only pumped what was absolutely necessary,” she said.
Meanwhile commuters using public transport were delighted by the nine-euro monthly ticket, valid on local and regional buses, subways and trains across the country.
The ticket, which is available from June to August and cannot be used for high-speed trains, is subsidised by 2.5 billion euros of state funds and has already been snapped up by seven million people.
