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Palma.—The cost of a litre of petrol has now broken the 1.5 euros per litre barrier (1.511 euros) whilst diesel has reached its own new record of 1.42 euros a litre, Spain's Fuel Bulletin confirmed yesterday.

Petrol has topped its previous record of 1.498 euros a litre established in the middle of April, and diesel the record of 1.399 euros it set in the middle of March.

The prices set out in the Fuel Bulletin reflect average national prices but at some service stations in Madrid (1.53euros) and elsewhere in the country including here in the Balearics (1.55), petrol is selling for even higher.

According to the Ministry of Industry, 80% of vehicles in the country now run on diesel but on average, drivers are having to pay more than 1.44 euros a litre for it.

Since the start of last month, the price of petrol has risen by 12% whilst diesel now costs a further 8.56%. This summer, filling a vehicle with petrol with an average tank of 55 litres now costs 9 euros more, as much as 83.1 euros. In the case of diesel, 78.1 euros, nearly 8 euros more than at the beginning of the season. From the start of the year, the cost of a litre of petrol has risen by 16%, whilst diesel is 10.5% more expensive.

However, fuel in Spain remains cheaper than the European Union average. Petrol in the 27 EU member states costs an average of 1.69 euros and 1.72 euros a litre in the countries using the euro currency; in the case of diesel, 1.54 and 1.52 euros per litre respectively.