Drivers in Germany and Austria felt a painful reality check in October: despite national tax cuts designed to lower pump prices, petrol (Super E10/Super) fell roughly in line with the relief while diesel benefited far less. That matters for commuters, fleets and dealers — diesel remains unusually expensive relative to petrol just as heating‑season demand lifts distillate markets.
What the numbers show
Germany’s motorist club ADAC reports that October’s monthly averages fell sharply from September after the federal reduction of the energy tax that took effect on 1 October 2026. In ADAC’s October monthly review, Super E10 averaged €2.114 per litre — about 15.2 cents cheaper than the previous month — while diesel averaged €2.261, down 12.5 cents in the month as a whole. ADAC notes the petrol relief was largely passed on at the pump but says the diesel cut was only partially transmitted to consumers.
Looking at a shorter snapshot, ADAC’s weekly update for the 19–26 October period recorded opposing short‑term movements: Super E10 fell by 2.6 cents week‑on‑week to €2.084, while diesel rose by 3.4 cents to €2.289 — a divergence ADAC links to rising crude prices and tightened diesel/heating‑oil markets. The weekly numbers show diesel trading more than 20 cents above Super in late October.
Official EU weekly data summarized by fuel‑prices.eu confirm that Germany’s national averages in the week of 26 October were among the highest seen this year: the bulletin put diesel at €2.298 and petrol at €2.167 per litre (week of 26 Oct). The site also notes the October energy‑tax reduction (14.04 ct per litre; roughly 16.7 ct including VAT) applied from 1 October through 31 December 2026.
