Commuters and drivers can breathe a sigh of relief as fuel prices dip at midnight on Tuesday.

The retail price of petrol will drop by 25 to 29 cents a litre on Wednesday, the minerals and energy department said in a statement.

The price of 91 ULP would decrease by 29 cents per litre, 93 ULP and LRP by 27 cents and 95 ULP and LRP by 25 cents per litre,

The wholesale price of diesel with a 0.05 percent sulphur content would drop by 56 cents per litre and diesel with a 0.005 percent sulphur content by 55 cents.

The wholesale price of illuminating paraffin would drop by 65 cents a litre, with the single maximum national retail price at 87 cents a litre.

Escalating fuel prices had been eating into incomes and profits and curtailing travel plans. Many motorists had taken to leaving their cars at home and either using public transport or investing in scooters.

Sapa