German diesel hit 2.44 euro per liter on Easter Sunday, smashing the March 2022 record by over 11 cents, per ADAC data. Super E10 is at 2.19 euro, also a 2026 high. And the timing is brutal. Germany's new fuel price regulation kicked in April 1, limiting gas stations to one price hike per day at noon.
The idea was to curb the 20+ daily price changes that had become standard. Economics Minister Katherina Reiche said she'd be "closely monitoring" the rollout. But the ADAC reported that on day one, stations front-loaded an average 8-cent increase at noon, essentially using the rule as cover for a single large markup. Reiche warned these measures "may not be enough." Feels like the regulation gave the industry a playbook instead of a leash.