PETROL PRICES: EIGHT IN 10 AUSTRALIANS BELIEVE SERVOS ARE PRICE GOUGING

 79 per cent of Australians believe petrol stations are price gouging

Nearly eight in 10 Australians believe they're paying unfairly high prices at the bowser, as rising fuel costs continue to squeeze household budgets.

Fuel prices may have eased in recent weeks, but many Australians still believe they're paying too much every time they fill up.

A new Finder survey has found 79 per cent of Australians believe petrol stations are price gouging, highlighting growing frustration over the cost of keeping a car on the road.

The research also suggests that higher fuel prices are changing consumer behaviour, with reports of fuel hoarding, theft, and purchase limits becoming increasingly common.

Petrol prices are hitting household budgets

According to Finder, petrol is becoming a significant source of financial stress for many Australians.

Eighteen per cent of respondents said fuel was one of their most stressful household expenses in June, up from 11 per cent in January.

Finder personal finance expert Sarah Megginson said many households were already feeling the pressure.

"A trip to the servo can feel like a financial ambush for Aussie drivers," she said.

"Petrol is no longer a routine expense; it's becoming a weekly financial shock."

Prices are changing behaviour

The survey found almost three in 10 Australians had witnessed people filling jerry cans or other containers with fuel, while 17 per cent said they had seen motorists drive away without paying.

Almost one in five respondents also reported seeing petrol stations limit the amount of fuel customers could purchase.

Megginson warned that if fuel prices continue to climb, households may be forced to cut spending elsewhere.

"If global tensions continue and prices keep rising, Australians may be forced to make impossible choices between filling up the tank and other essential expenses," she said.

While the survey reflects public opinion rather than evidence of unlawful pricing practices by petrol retailers, it highlights the growing frustration many motorists feel every time they pull into a service station.

For consumers looking to reduce costs, experts recommend comparing fuel prices between suburbs, combining errands into fewer trips and carpooling where possible.