The Treasury has paid gas stations more than 333 million for the 20-cent bonus on fuel

MADRID, 30 May. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Ministry of Finance and Civil Service has paid 333.6 million euros to service stations as refunds for the 20-cent discounts on fuel approved by the Executive last March to deal with the escalation in prices.

According to the latest data from the Ministry headed by María Jesús Montero, service stations have received a total of 642.6 million euros.

Specifically, 333.6 million euros have already been paid in refunds of the discounts applied, which corresponds to just over 84% of the applications submitted. To that amount are added the 309 million in advances.

This minimum bonus will last until June 30, although the Minister of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, Raquel Sánchez, has already opened the door to extend it beyond that date "if necessary", although the Government is still "monitoring" the situation.

Just this Monday the advanced data of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) corresponding to the month of May was released, which rose by 0.8% in relation to the previous month and increased its interannual rate four tenths, up to 8, 7%, due to higher gasoline and food prices.

Last week, the average price of gasoline in Spain reached a new all-time high, standing at 1.94 euros per liter, reaching unprecedented figures for the second consecutive week, while diesel, despite falling 1.06%, up to 1,867 euros per liter, it continued to mark a higher price than the average for the European Union (1,856 euros per liter).

However, the prices paid by consumers at the pump do not reach this record due to the mandatory discount of 20 cents approved by the Government, whose application has been in force since April 1. Despite this, the unstoppable rise in fuel prices in recent weeks has 'eaten' much of that aid.

Specifically, the average price of a liter of gasoline chained its fifth consecutive rise last week after Easter and stood at an all-time high of 1.94 euros, after a rise of 2.27%, according to data from the Petroleum Bulletin of the European Union (EU).

Extending the bonus of at least 20 cents per liter approved by the Government, the average price of gasoline last week was 1.74 euros per liter, although it must be taken into account that, depending on the oil company, the discounts may be higher .

Compared to a year ago, the average price of a liter of gasoline has increased by 43.7%, while in the case of diesel it is 54.3% more expensive, although without taking into account the discount currently in force.