The Federal Consumer Protection Agency (Profeco) announced a new measure to identify and warn consumers about gas stations that impose excessive fuel prices. Starting next week, banners with the legend “Don’t charge here, they’ll go over the top with their prices” will be placed at those gas stations that exceed the profit margins considered fair.
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The head of Profeco, Iván Escalante Ruiz, explained that this initiative seeks to protect the economy of Mexican families and encourage fair competition among fuel retailers. In addition, during the morning press conferences, gas stations that engage in these abusive practices will be marked with “ticks.”
As an example, he mentioned the Petromax service station, from the Petro Seven group, in San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo León, which earns 4.97 pesos for each liter of gasoline, and the Orsan del Norte service station, from Mobil, in Monterrey, Nuevo León, which earns 4.75 pesos for each liter it sells.
Gasoline remains below inflation: Profeco
According to the head of Profeco, this action is part of the government’s efforts to keep fuel prices stable and below inflation. According to data from Profeco, at the beginning of Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo’s presidency, the liter of gasoline was at 23.95 pesos, and as of January 2, 2025 it was recorded at 23.85 pesos, which indicates a decrease of 0.4%.
Escalante Ruiz said that gasoline prices have remained below the accumulated inflation practically since October 2019.
Regarding the behavior of the price of diesel, the attorney general indicated that, in real terms, it has also decreased by 11.03% during the six-year terms of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and President Sheinbaum Pardo, while during Calderón’s six-year terms it increased by 57.6 percent and during Peña Nieto’s by 40.3 percent.
When comparing the average gasoline prices in different countries around the world, he highlighted that in our country it is below that of countries such as South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland.
He reiterated that Profeco will continue to monitor fuel prices and take measures to ensure that service stations offer fair prices to consumers. Citizens are invited to be alert to these signs and to report any irregularities in gasoline prices.
Source: eleconomista
