Fuel Prices: No More Rubbish

I have the hiccups. Yet instead of the usual “hic”, I am making a sound remarkably like the word “rubbish”. And it had to happen today, when I was planning to explain why fuel prices are rising - “rubbish” - and will shoot up again next week - “rubbish”. Higher raw-material costs - “rubbish”. More expensive refining - “rubbish”. International conflicts - “rubbish”. High taxes - “rubbish”. Limited storage capacity - “rubbish”. Unstable markets - “rubbish”. It is not straightforward.

Only a shock will cure this: in the first quarter of this year, Galp, BP, Repsol, Moeve and Shell made almost €11 billion in profit, while Europe’s 100 largest oil companies are taking in €30 million an hour from the conflict in the Middle East. Honestly! My hiccups have gone now. No more rubbish: I filled up with diesel, and had to leave even my pants behind to pay for the tank.