ZAGREB, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Croatia will raise the maximum retail prices of Eurosuper 95 by 1 cent to 1.74 euros (2.00 U.S. dollars) per liter and Eurodiesel by 6 cents to 1.91 euros (2.20 dollars) from Tuesday, the government said Monday.
The price of blue diesel, a subsidized fuel used by farmers and fishermen, will rise by 10 cents to 1.50 euros (1.72 dollars) per liter. The new price cap takes effect on Tuesday and remains in force for seven days.
The Croatian government sets temporary maximum retail prices for fuel, which retailers are not allowed to exceed. The caps are reviewed and adjusted periodically, typically every one to two weeks, based on developments in global oil markets. The measure is intended to protect consumers and the wider economy from sharp increases in fuel prices.
Global oil prices have fluctuated in recent weeks amid turmoil in the Middle East, raising concerns about potential supply disruptions and putting upward pressure on energy costs worldwide.
The latest fuel increases have also renewed concerns about inflationary pressures in Croatia, where inflation remains above the eurozone average. According to Eurostat, Croatia's annual inflation rate stood at 3.7 percent in August, compared with 3.2 percent across the eurozone. ■