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More than 2,200 petrol stations across Spain are now charging at least €2 a litre for fuel, giving drivers another unwelcome reminder of just how sharply prices have risen in recent months.

 

The latest figures come as Spain's inflation rate climbed to 4.3% in August, its highest level since February 2023, with fuel and transport costs among the biggest contributors to the increase.

 

According to figures from the National Statistics Institute (INE), fuel prices rose by 24% during August compared with a year earlier. Diesel was particularly badly hit, with prices up 30.3%, while petrol increased by 16.9%.

 

That surge is now clearly visible on forecourt price boards. Of the 2,213 Spanish service stations currently displaying prices above €2 a litre, 807 are charging more than €2 for diesel.

 

The figures are based on information from the Spanish Government's Filling Station Geoportal, which provides fuel prices from stations across the country and is updated every five minutes.

 

The difference between the cheapest and most expensive stations can be considerable, meaning where you choose to fill up could make a noticeable difference to the final bill.

 

At the time of the latest analysis, the most expensive 95-octane petrol was being sold at a station on Carretera Aeropuerto in Maó, Mallorca, at a frightening €2.399 a litre. The most expensive diesel was also being sold in the Balearic Islands, with a station on Carretera Aeropuerto in Sant Climent charging €2.299 a litre.

 

At the other end of the scale, the cheapest 95-octane petrol was available in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, at a station on Calle Arrecife, for €1.244 a litre. For diesel, one of the cheapest prices recorded was €1.409 a litre in Ingenio, Gran Canaria.

 

That means the difference between the most expensive and cheapest petrol prices listed in the latest data was more than €1.15 a litre.

 

For Spanish drivers, another issue is now looming. The government's current fuel support measures, including a 20-cent discount on diesel and a 5-cent discount on petrol, are due to expire at the end of September.

 

The Spanish Confederation of Service Station Owners (CEES) has called for the measures to be extended, while Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo has indicated that the government will continue supporting families if price pressures persist. No extension has yet been confirmed.

 

With prices varying so widely between individual stations, drivers can check the latest figures before filling up using the government's Gas Station Geoportal, which allows motorists to search by location and compare prices almost in real time.

 

For anyone facing a €2-a-litre price board, checking the next few stations before pulling up to the pump could make a surprisingly big difference to the cost of a full tank.

 

Image: Ministerio para la transición ecológica y el reto demográfico