The Maltese should start benefitting from cheaper fuel prices as soon as possible seeing that the international price of oil had fallen from more than $100 a barrel to less than $50 since June last year, the Consumer Rights Association said.

It said in a statement this was happening because of new developments in the US which doubled production and drastically reduced imports. Other countries, including Saudi Arabia, were also pumping more oil. Moreover, Iran was expected to again start exporting oil as soon as international sanctions were withdrawn.

In spite of this, the Maltese were still paying high prices for petrol and diesel. The association insisted that the prices of fuels should be reduced immediately especially since these were a substantial expense for all Maltese and Gozitans.

The association also insisted that the government should act on the traffic situation as consumers were wasting a substantial amount of fuel stuck in jams.