Petrol Price Cycles in Australia (2026)

What is a petrol price cycle?

A petrol price cycle is a pattern in retail unleaded petrol prices. Prices usually rise over a relatively short period and then fall more gradually. The ACCC says these cycles are caused by retailer pricing decisions rather than matching changes in wholesale costs.

How long does a cycle last?

There is no national cycle length. The duration changes by city and from one cycle to the next. For 2025, the ACCC reported average cycle lengths of about five weeks in Sydney, six weeks in Melbourne, six and a half weeks in Brisbane, two and a half weeks in Adelaide and one week in Perth. These are historical averages, not a timetable for the next rise.

Which fuels follow the cycle?

ACCC buying tips are for regular unleaded petrol. Similar timing may apply to E10 and premium unleaded because the main petrol grades often move together. Diesel and automotive LPG do not follow the same retail price cycles. Always select the grade your vehicle uses before comparing stations.

Why a fixed cheapest day is unreliable

Except for Perth's seven-day unleaded pattern, a cycle does not stay tied to the same weekday. A rise can start on a different day and individual retailers do not all move together. Check the latest city chart and station reports instead of waiting for Tuesday, Wednesday or any other fixed day.

How to read a petrol price-cycle chart

1. Check the city, fuel grade and update date. The ACCC buying tips apply to regular unleaded petrol in the five largest cities.
2. Find the latest point on the chart and compare it with the recent high and low, rather than comparing it with one old weekday.
3. Look at the direction as well as the level. A low price that has started rising calls for a different station check from a high price that is still easing.
4. Open the station list for the places you can reach. A city average does not show the price or report time at every service station.

Why stations can differ from the city chart

A city chart summarises a market; it is not a promise about one bowser. Retailers change prices at different times, and local competition can leave a sizeable gap between nearby suburbs or stations. Check the exact fuel grade, station update time and detour before relying on the city average.

What to do when prices rise

If prices have started rising, compare nearby stations because some retailers may not have moved yet. If your tank can safely wait, a smaller fill may be enough while prices ease. If reported prices are near the lower end of the cycle, compare the station price, distance and update time before a larger fill.

Source notes

See the ACCC petrol price-cycle page for the latest buying tips and charts. Western Australian drivers can also compare notified prices for today and tomorrow through FuelWatch. Source details last checked 8 July 2026.