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Why is diesel so expensive? Retailers charge 20c per liter more than they should, fuel watchers say

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Australians pay about 20 cents per liter more for diesel than they should, consumer advocates say. And they said there seemed to be no good reason for that. Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers said Australians were “really dirty” about higher fuel prices. While prices have declined, experts say diesel prices have not fallen enough. But retailers say there is always a lag between the drop in oil prices seen at the pump. Even if you don’t own a diesel vehicle, you may be affected by the price of diesel. That’s because it’s the fuel of choice for industry — transportation, agriculture, shipping, and mining — which means there are after-effects for the economy. Why is diesel so much more expensive than gasoline? Oil prices soared earlier this year after Russia was sanctioned for its invasion of Ukraine. Diesel prices rose more than gasoline due to various factors including higher demand due to the COVID-19 economic recovery and less supply from Russia. Russia is one of the largest oil producer

Europe feels the pain as the Kremlin war drags on, but, in the long run, Russia will pay a heavy price

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Across Europe, signs of distress multiply as Russia’s war in Ukraine drags on: Food banks in Italy feed more people, German officials turn off air conditioning as they prepare plans to ration natural gas and restart coal plants. Key points: Just as Europe is recovering from the pandemic, its economic future looks uncertain as Russia’s war in Ukraine continues Meanwhile, high energy costs, fueled by the war, benefited the Kremlin and kept the ruble But in the long run, economists say, Russia will pay a heavy price for its war A giant utility is asking for a taxpayer bailout, and more to come. Dairy companies wonder how they are going to pasteurize milk. The euro has slumped to a 20-year low against the dollar, and recession predictions are on the rise. Those pressure points are signs of how the conflict — and the fact that the Kremlin is gradually suffocating the natural gas that keeps industry humming — is provoking an energy crisis in Europe and increasing the likelihood of plunging