ACT Fuel Prices – Week of 31 August 2026

Canberra drivers are copping a third consecutive week of rising U91 prices, with metro unleaded climbing to 208.4 c/L for the week of 31 August to 7 September 2026. That's 3.6c above the national metro average of 204.8 c/L, making the ACT the most expensive state in the country right now.

ACT Weekly Fuel Price Snapshot

Rural data was not available for ACT this week.

ACT Petrol Prices on the Rise: What the Weekly Data Shows

U91 started the week relatively quietly at 206.4 c/L on Monday 31 August, barely shifting through Tuesday and Wednesday. Then came a mid-week jump: prices pushed to 208.7 c/L on Thursday and kept climbing, reaching 211.1 c/L by Saturday 6 September. That's a near 5c swing across the week, which is significant when you're filling a 60-litre tank.

Diesel had the steepest rise of the week, up 2.2c to 259.4 c/L. That's a 51c premium over U91, which will sting anyone driving a diesel vehicle for the daily commute.

Where ACT Fuel Prices Stand Against the 30-Day Range

Current U91 metro sits at 208.4 c/L, which is comfortably in the middle of the 30-day range (low of 186.7 c/L, high of 222.9 c/L). You're not at the worst of it, but with three consecutive weekly rises on the books, the trend isn't your friend right now.

Cheapest and Priciest Stations: The Gap Is Huge

The difference between the cheapest and most expensive metro stations this week is a whopping 22.2 c/L. The lowest price recorded was 194.7 c/L at Costco Canberra Airport, though that's a members-only price. The most expensive was 216.9 c/L at Reddy Express Shell Braddon.

Brand averages tell a similar story. Among the seven brands with three or more stations, Metro Fuel came in cheapest at 203.6 c/L across 8 stations. BP averaged 207.8 c/L and EG Ampol sat at 208.8 c/L. At the other end, Ampol Foodary averaged 211.5 c/L and Reddy Express averaged 210.0 c/L across 16 stations. That's nearly an 8c gap between the cheapest and priciest brands, which adds up to around $4.80 on a 60-litre fill.

Last Week's Cheapest Day to Fill Up in ACT

Last Monday (31 August) was the cheapest day to fill up, with metro U91 sitting at 206.4 c/L. Prices didn't stay there long, with the climb beginning in earnest from Thursday onwards.

ACT Metro Petrol Price Forecast: Expect Further Rises

The short-term outlook for ACT metro U91 isn't encouraging. Prices are forecast to reach 212.2 c/L on Sunday 7 September (78% confidence), climb to 213.0 c/L on Monday 8 September (71% confidence), and push further to 213.6 c/L on Tuesday 9 September (65% confidence). That's up to 5.2c above the current metro average of 208.4 c/L. Confidence softens as the days extend, but the direction is clear.

How to Keep Your Fuel Costs Down in Canberra

With prices rising and no immediate relief in sight, now is the time to be strategic. Brand choice genuinely matters this week. Seeking out Metro Fuel sites over Reddy Express or Ampol Foodary could save you close to $5 per tank. If you can fill up before Tuesday, you'll likely beat the forecast peak of 213.6 c/L. Every cent counts when prices are trending upward for three weeks straight.

Petrol Smart shows you live prices across all Canberra stations on a map, so you can spot the cheapest option near you before you leave home. Download Petrol Smart, it's free and has no ads, and set a price alert so you know the moment prices dip.