Consumers may get relief on petrol, diesel prices ahead of Diwali

New Delhi, Oct 27 : Consumers can cheer as oil marketing companies (OMC) may actually bring down the retail prices of petrol and diesel in the coming week ahead of Diwali.
Oil sector experts said that with global oil prices under pressure from slowing demand in the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic sweeping several western countries, crude price could fall in coming days. If this holds on for a week or so, there could be positive gains for auto fuel consumers in India by way of a fall in retail price of petrol and diesel.
Global crude prices are already down over 5 per cent over the week with oil now selling close to $40 a barrel from earlier levels of over $ 42 per barrel. But with lower oil demand and rising inventory, there is fear among oil producing companies that crude prices may start falling again.
OMCs in India have been holding on to the retail price of petrol and diesel for close to a month now. Even on Tuesday, the price of two petrol products remained unchanged. With this, petrol prices have now been unchanged for over a month now while diesel prices were same for the 25th straight day across the metros.
Price of petrol in the national capital was at Rs 81.06 per litre. In Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, the fuel was sold for Rs 87.74, Rs 84.14 and Rs 82.59 per litre, respectively.
Diesel prices in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata were at Rs 70.46, Rs 76.86, Rs 75.95 and Rs 73.99, respectively.