Speculation on fuel prices: the budget of the Guardia di Finanza controls

Fuel price speculation, the General Command of the finance police, starting from March 2022 – in conjunction with the increase in prices (also for gas and electricity), has ordered an increase in supervision. The checks involved both distribution plants and commercial warehouses.

The controls

The aim of the yellow flames is to examine the dynamics of price trends, the need to verify the regular communication of the prices applied by type of fuel to the competent Ministry and the correct display of product prices to the public.

Rising fuel prices: the balance sheet

Overall in 2022, 5,187 operations were performed. One of these too
on a national scale, called “Fuel prices”. 2,809 violations of the price discipline have been contested.

717 violations concerned the lack of exposure and/or discrepancies between the prices charged and the prices
indicated and 2,092 the failure to notify the Ministry.

Ministry directives

With the end of the year, fuel price controls increased on the orders of the Ministry of Finance, also by virtue of the restoration of the ordinary excise rates and the concomitant intensification of vehicular traffic.

Involved over 660 operational departments of the Corps, with the support of the Special Departments.

In order to curb illegal conduct on the increase in fuel prices, the Guardia di Finanza will ensure structured and widespread enforcement activity throughout the country for 2023, also with a view to helping to calm
price increases, acting along three lines.

Today, meanwhile, the Government will evaluate new actions to control prices.