Fuel Prices Jump 20 Percent in Six Months, and Piedmont's Industry Feels the Squeeze

Petrol prices in Italy have increased by 20 percent over the past six months, according to The Local Italy, a rise that has made the cost of filling a tank a live political question across the continent. The outlet reports that prices vary considerably from country to country, partly because governments have taken different measures to cushion the shock.

The comparison piece published by The Local Italy sets Italy's pump prices against those of its neighbours, noting that the gap between the cheapest and most expensive countries in Europe is widening. For a region built on road freight, automotive manufacturing and cross-border trade, the arithmetic of the fuel bill is not a household matter alone.