The measure follows a sharp surge in fuel costs driven by the Iran conflict.
Germany’s federal government has announced plans to curb volatile fuel pricing by restricting petrol stations to raising pump prices only once per day, in a bid to bring greater stability to the market. The measure follows a sharp surge in fuel costs driven by the Iran conflict and the temporary disruption of shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, which pushed global oil prices up by around 30%.
Under the proposal, stations may still lower prices at any time, but multiple daily increases would no longer be permitted. Berlin argues that the reform aims to disrupt the so‑called “rocket and feather” effect, where prices rise rapidly with crude oil spikes but fall only slowly when markets ease.
In parallel, Germany will release part of its strategic oil reserves following a request from the International Energy Agency, which has asked member states to collectively free up 400 million barrels to stabilise global supply and temper price shocks.