Australian motorists are facing a significant jump in fuel costs this week, as a temporary reduction in the federal fuel excise expires and rising international oil prices tied to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continue pushing pump prices higher across the country.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's most recent weekly fuel price monitoring report, covering the week ending July 29, showed capital city petrol prices averaging 193.6 cents per liter and diesel averaging 232.8 cents per liter, according to figures compiled by IndexBox. Both figures reflect a notable increase from previous weeks, driven by a combination of the partial restoration of the federal fuel excise and higher international refined fuel prices tied to ongoing Middle East instability.

The current 16-cent-per-liter reduction in the federal fuel excise is set to expire Aug. 2. From Aug. 3, the excise rate rises to 53.7 cents per liter, reflecting both the return of the 16-cent reduction and a separate indexed adjustment of 1.1 cents per liter tied to changes in the Consumer Price Index. That increase follows an earlier partial restoration of 16 cents per liter that took effect July 1, after a larger, temporary 32-cent excise cut had been in place beginning April 1. Taken........

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