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Fuel prices varied by up to 12.7c a litre in Auckland yesterday in the fallout from a weekend discount battle by oil companies.
The gap closed substantially during the afternoon, leaving only BP stations with higher prices than its rivals.
Last night it was holding out at 157.9c a litre for 91-octane petrol in Auckland (2.7c higher than other brands) and at 103.9c for diesel (6c more than the others).
Earlier yesterday, after the company ended a 7c "Mother's Day" weekend discount offer and added a further 2c to its prices, it was selling petrol for 10.7c and diesel for 12.7c more than Mobil outlets.
Caltex stations initially followed BP's rises at most Auckland sites, although it left one large outlet in Dominion Rd matching Mobil's 147.2c for 91-octane petrol and 91.2c for diesel.
But after influential industry player Shell decided not to raise its prices higher than pre-discount levels, Caltex and Mobil fell into line with it at 154.2c for petrol and 97.9c for diesel, although with some minor site-by-site variations.
That has left BP under pressure to pull back today, although spokeswoman Diana Stretch said her company's increase was amply justified by an 8 per cent rise in imported product prices since late last month.
Caltex spokeswoman Sharon Buckland, speaking shortly before her company pulled back from BP's prices, said: "From the motorists' point of view, the advice is definitely to shop around."
