Petrol prices in the Illawarra are are likely to fall as low as $1.15 a litre - but it remains to be seen if motorists will care.
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The NRMA's Bridget Ahern said prices were expected to go up to the high 130s per litre of regular unleaded, but then they could start a downward trend where it could reach as low as 115 cents per litre.
"Even though we're living in uncertain times, that's good news, that we can get cheaper petrol," Ms Ahern said.
"Although maybe people are going to be driving less so it's not going to be a problem. I'm wondering if people are going to need petrol as much as they previously did."
With more and more people self-isolating, or working from home, they simply don't need to drive as often as they used to.
And, if they don't need to drive as often, then they won't need petrol as often, so falling prices won't have the same appeal.
It will be interesting to see what happens in the next couple of weeks when people aren't moving around as much as they have previously.
- NRMA's Bridget Ahern
Which, perversely, could make them drop even further as petrol stations look to entice customers back.
"It will be interesting to see what happens in the next couple of weeks when people aren't moving around as much as they have previously," Ms Ahern said.
There are several reasons why petrol prices are likely to fall in the next week - and the lack of travel due to coronavirus is just one of them.
Russia and Saudi Arabia are continuing their fight that started when the former refused a request to drop production.
Also driving down prices is the lack of demand for energy due to the coronavirus.
What that means for Illawarra motorists is cheap petrol - if they want it.
"What we've seen in Wollongong in the past week, prices have dropped about six cents and we expect them to drop even further in the coming couple of weeks," Ms Ahern.
"We're really hopeful Wollongong motorists will see it drop by another six cents, if not a little bit more."
While prices are likely to fall, Ms Ahern said Illawarra motorists shouldn't expect to see them reach as low as the magical $1 a litre mark.
"I can't see that happening in Wollongong, simply because there isn't the same competition that we see up in Sydney," Ms Ahern said.
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Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
