The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has released its quarterly petrol monitoring report, indicating that average petrol prices across the five largest cities rose to 178.8 cents per litre (cpl) in the September quarter of 2025, marking an increase of 3.1 cpl from the previous quarter.

Despite the rise in prices, Commissioner Anna Brakey noted that they are still lower than the levels seen throughout most of 2024. The report highlights that petrol prices in Canberra, Hobart, and Darwin also saw increases, along with average prices across over 190 regional locations monitored by the ACCC.

The increase in petrol prices is attributed to higher international prices for refined petrol and other wholesale costs. However, a stronger Australian dollar against the US dollar helped to mitigate some of the cost increases in Australian dollar terms.

In addition to petrol, diesel prices also rose, with average retail diesel prices across the five largest cities reaching 181.8 cpl, an increase of 3.4 cpl from the previous quarter. This rise is linked to higher international refined diesel prices.

Sales of regular unleaded petrol have been declining in Australia, influenced by the growing efficiency of petrol vehicles and the increasing presence of battery and hybrid vehicles. Conversely, diesel sales have been on the rise, reflecting a growing number of registered diesel vehicles.

All states and territories in Australia now have fuel price transparency schemes in place, allowing consumers to access near real-time pricing data. The ACCC encourages motorists to utilize fuel price apps to find lower prices.