Small businesses that rely on road transport are under financial pressure after diesel prices in France reached an all-time high. According to an analysis by AFP of data from about 9,000 petrolpumps reported on the government fuel price website, the average price of diesel across the country has reached $2.39 euros, or about 2.75 US dollars.

The price of petrol has also set a new record. The price of petrol sold the most is 2.17 euros per liter, which is about 2.49.

This price has been above the previous high level of 2022 for more than 10 consecutive days. The price of diesel at more than 700 petrol pumps in the country is above 2.50 Euro and the price of 2.70 at about 70 petrol pumps in the country.

According to France’s national statistics and the of the Institute of Economic Studies}, the increase in fuel prices is much faster than the overall inflation}. In August, the price of diesel increased by 36.4 percent on an annual basis. In the same period, petrol 19.1 percent and overall energy prices 16.7 percent, while overall inflation was only 2.4 percent. France’s construction sector has been one of the hardest hit by fuel price hikes.

According to a survey conducted in the spring by an organization representing small construction businesses , 92 percent of handicraft and small construction businesses are feeling the impact of fuel price increases . According to annual fuel expenses of (approx{{} {{} have been added to the annual fuel expenditure.

The French government has introduced a targeted assistance program without opting for an overall fuel tax cut. The government has committed a total of 1.4 billion euros (approx1.61 {{} for various sectors. This includes a subsidy of 20 cents per liter on off-road diesel for small construction businesses and separate assistance schemes for agriculture, fisheries and road transport.

In addition, 1.5 million low-income employees have been provided assistance of 100 Euros (Approx. 114 Dollars). The Government estimates the number of people eligible for such assistance to be about 3 million.