The Swedish competition authorities believe that there is something insidious about the petrol companies leaning on each other. Therefore, posting fuel prices online is now prohibited.
Sweden has introduced a ban on petrol companies publishing their fuel prices online. The Swedish Competition Authority has made this decision after a lengthy investigation into the pricing of the petrol market.
The authority observed a tendency for the companies to quickly adjust their prices one after the other.
When one company changed its price, the others often followed suit and raised prices to a corresponding level. According to the competition authority, this practice could limit competition and lead to higher prices for consumers.
– By publishing the prices online, the companies have had the opportunity to coordinate their pricing.
– This has potentially led to a leveling of prices and weakened competition on the market, says Johan Sahl, head of unit at the Swedish Consumer Agency, to Carup .
READ ALSO: Electric cars went crazy last night – the police can't do anything
The ban on online publication of fuel prices has been introduced following a dialogue with the petrol companies. The companies have voluntarily agreed to stop publishing the prices online, and the competition authority has therefore concluded its investigation.
It is not yet known how the ban will affect consumers. Smaller petrol companies do not expect it to have any significant impact on their business. They indicate that they will continue to orientate themselves in the market and adjust their prices in relation to competitors.
Although online publication of prices is now prohibited, the petrol market remains dominated by a few large players. These actors have a significant influence on pricing, and the smaller companies often have to follow their prices.
The Swedes are not the only ones who wonder about almost identical petrol prices. Several people do it at home too. Among others the people in FDM.
– We are also surprised that the price changes happen almost magically at the same time as it was controlled by the radio tower in Frankfurt, reads a comment to BT back in May this year.
The Danish Competition and Consumer Authority has, however, investigated the conditions several times. And here it is not believed that there is anything to come after.
