Motorists will pay less for petrol in the weeks ahead after unleaded petrol prices hit an 11-week high last week, an economist says.
The average Australian price of unleaded petrol rose 0.6 of a cent to 144 cents a litre in the week ended January 22, data from the Australian Institute of Petroleum shows.
The national average metropolitan price rose 0.6 of a cent to 143.5 cents a litre, while the regional average price rose 0.6 of a cent to 144.9 cents a litre.
"Given that fuel prices peaked last Friday, it is likely that pump prices will continue to fall over the coming week," Commsec economist Savanth Sebastian said in a statement on Monday.
Mr Sebastian said drivers had a tougher task in picking the cheaper days to buy petrol as the discounting price cycle had shifted from around seven-to-10 days out to 12-to-14 days.
"The difference between the peak and trough in the petrol price cycle can be as much as 12 cents a litre," he said.
"Add in the shopper dockets and motorists can be saving around $15 every time they fill up."
Darwin had the dearest unleaded petrol, with the price rising 1.2 cents to 154.3 cents a litre, while Sydney had the cheapest, up 0.2 of a cent to 142.2 cents a litre.
The average price of petrol rose in all capital cities bar Adelaide, which fell 0.4 of a cent to 143 cents a litre.
