Petrol price will gradually increase: economist

The Energy Department announced last week that petrol would increase by 19-cents a litre while diesel will go up by 29 or 30 cents per litre - depending on the grade.  

Economist, Dawie Roodt feels consumers should not be hit too hard saying the fuel hike isn't that high considering the significant decreases for July.  

Roodt says motorists can expect more fuel price increases.

"My suspicion is that we will see a gradual increase in the petrol price until the end of the year. One or two months could see a decrease. The average price will gradually increase is that they expect the rand under pressure while the international price will also go up a little," he says. 

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Roodt says it's important for consumers to budget wisely.

"It's important for consumers to budget and to make sure that there's an item for unforeseen expenses included in your budget," he says.