Italy Extends Fuel Tax Cut as Energy Prices Rise
Listen to the story
Fuel prices in Italy have risen again this week, putting pressure on drivers and households. Petrol now costs more than 2.07 euros per litre, while diesel has reached 2.18 euros.
The increase comes as global oil and gas prices climb. These commodities affect the cost of fuel across Italy and other countries.
To ease the impact, Italy's Council of Ministers, known as the Cdm, approved a decree this week. The decree extends a cut to fuel taxes, called accise, by one more week.
The excise tax cut is meant to lower the price drivers pay at the pump. Without it, fuel prices would likely be even higher.
This is not the first time the government has extended the measure. It has renewed the tax cut several times as energy costs have stayed high.
Commentators have noted that Italy seems to have lost its earlier focus on energy savings. During past energy crises, the country encouraged people to use less fuel and electricity.
Now, with prices rising again, some argue that reducing energy consumption could help both households and the environment, alongside government tax measures.
For now, the government's short-term response is another one-week extension of the tax cut, while global energy markets remain unstable.
Vocabulary10 words
- Council of Ministers (Cdm)
- the group of top government leaders who make big decisions
- decree
- an official law made quickly by the government
- excise tax
- a tax added to the price of fuel
- oil
- a natural resource used to make fuel
- gas
- a fuel used for energy and heating
- energy savings
- using less energy on purpose
- energy consumption
- the amount of energy people use
- commodities
- raw materials that are bought and sold, like oil
- extended
- made to last longer
- pump
- the machine where you buy fuel for your car
Quiz
Answer key
1. An extension of the fuel tax cut 2. Because global oil and gas prices are rising 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Fuel prices in Italy have risen again this week, putting pressure on _____ and households.
Petrol now costs more than 2.07 euros per _____, while diesel has reached 2.18 euros.
The increase comes as global oil and _____ prices climb.
Italy's Council of Ministers, known as the Cdm, approved a _____ this week.
The decree extends a cut to fuel _____, called accise, by one more week.
The excise tax cut is meant to lower the price drivers pay at the _____.
Commentators have noted that Italy seems to have lost its earlier focus on energy _____.
Now, with prices rising again, some argue that reducing energy _____ could help both households and the environment.