The upward march in petrol prices continues unabated with Caltex announcing a 4c-a-litre increase.
Other oil companies were last night investigating and studying new prices.
BP said it has "no plans to move at this point," Mobil said it has yet to make a decision, and Shell does not expect to increase prices "in the next little while."
Caltex also increased the cost of diesel by 5c a litre.
Rising crude oil prices, higher refining and transport costs and the declining New Zealand dollar were behind the continuing price rises, said Caltex sales general manager Bruce Hollett.
"We are reluctant to raise prices but our profit margins are at 1c per litre, so we cannot continue to absorb these increasing costs or the fall in the dollar."
The price rise takes the cost of unleaded 91 petrol to $1.21 a litre, and premium unleaded to $1.25 a litre - a 42c jump in the past year.
As the cost of petrol and diesel rises, so too does interest in alternative fuels.
Taxi drivers are swamping the LPG industry with requests to convert from petrol.
Shell LPG manager Mario Vulinovich said installers' phones were still running hot with requests, at least 90 per cent of them from taxi drivers spending up to $1000 a month on petrol.
A conversion for an average late-model car costs $2500 to $3000.
Opposition politicians are also seeking to use the petrol prices as a weapon against the Government.
National Party leader Jenny Shipley said the Government was taking "windfall" taxes from extra GST revenue. Finance Minister Michael Cullen said this was not the case, as money now spent on petrol was not being spent elsewhere.
- NZPA and staff reporters
Caltex pumps prices higher
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