Jersey prices rise by 6% - the biggest increase in 14 years
Prices in Jersey have risen by 6% in the year to the end of March.
That is according to Government figures released today. It is the biggest increase for fourteen years. The largest jump has been in the prices of fuel and power.
It comes after a petition by ATF Fuels calling on the government to cut fuel duty received more than 1,000 signatures in 48 hours - meaning it will require a ministerial response.
In a statement the company said:
"ATF have received many supportive comments, it has been striking how many members of the public were not aware that 9ppl of road fuel duty (63.89ppl) is allocated to the Climate Emergency Fund. Even more so, this is the sole funding mechanism for the Carbon Neutral Roadmap, which is coincidentally being debated this week."
ATF says it has written to the Treasury Minister as well as all States Assembly members to ask them to urgently consider this in their final sitting.
ATF Director Jon Best said "We are reassured to see public support for this pragmatic and sensible measure which will offer real support to consumers. We are asking the government and States Assembly to review this petition in the coming days."
In response a Government spokesperson said:
“We are currently in the process of responding to Mr Best’s letter, and responses to petitions with more than 1,000 signatures need to be issued within 28 days. With both of these we will be outlining that a reduction in fuel duty would not help low income households significantly, unlike the measures recently put in place by the Social Security Minister.
“In addition, it is not possible to bring legislation to the Assembly to reduce fuel duty before the election. We will, though, continue to monitor oil prices, but there are still wide price differences in Jersey between the different suppliers.
“There are measures in the Carbon Neutral Roadmap that will be debated at this States sitting which seek to increase the uptake of 100% renewable fuels like second generation biodiesel. The policies are targeted towards wholly renewable fuels and are considered more effective than the proposed reduction in fuel duty, which is suggested would be applied to fuels that only have 10% or less renewable components (E5, E10 petrol and B7 diesel).”