It is rare enough to be underlined: this weekend, gasoline was cheaper in the Pyrénées-Orientales than on the other side of the border.
The Independent published, this Saturday, the list of the cheapest service stations in the Pyrénées-Orientales department. This Sunday, data from Spanish service stations was updated and it is clear that for the first time in a very long time, it was more profitable to refuel in France than in Spain.
As a reminder, this Saturday, under the effect of government aid of 18 cents per liter, the cheapest diesel in the Pyrénées-Orientales was displayed at the price of 1,759 euros / liter at the Intermarché de Saint-Laurent-de- la-Salanque.
It is certainly 1 tiny cent less than the cheapest diesel on the other side of the Spanish border (1,769 euro per liter in Puigcerdà) but psychologically, it weighs.
It’s more expensive in La Jonquera
Note that the bill is not the same everywhere near the French border: 1.774 in Llança, 1.779 in Figuères, 1.789 in Cadaquès, 1.795 in l’Escala and 1.795 in Llivía. In La Jonquera, an area favored by French motorists, diesel is displayed at 1.804 euro per litre… almost 2 cents more than the nearest French competitor: Leclerc du Boulou, which displays diesel at 1,785 euro/litre.
Same observation for unleaded (E5) which is displayed at 1,669 euro / liter at the Carrefour Market in Céret and… at 1,739 euro per liter in Puigcerdà (+7 cents compared to France).
Again, fuel is more expensive in La Jonquera (1.754 euro/litre or +8 cents compared to France).
As in France, Spain has set up an aid of 20 centimes per liter of gasoline. After several bugs, the measure, which entered into force on April 1, should be able to be generalized as of next week.