Fuel sales slip over Easter

Easter fuel sales plummeted by almost a third compared with last year in the wake of the panic buying sparked by the coalition.

The Retail Motor Industry said on Wednesday that over the four-day weekend sales of unleaded petrol were 29 per cent lower than the year before, diesel was 2.9 per cent down, super diesel 60 per cent lower and super unleaded 39 per cent less.

Some motorists already had plenty of petrol after panic buying last month, while some garages had run dry, said the RMI.

Forecourts were swamped with motorists filling up cars and petrol cans at the end of last month in response to government ministers urging them to keep their tanks topped up after fuel tanker drivers voted to go on strike.

"Constructive" talks aimed at averting strikes by the tanker drivers adjourned last week are now continuing.

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