Fleet Fuel Cost Index: October Adds 5.7% in a Month
AutoBridge’s fixed-basket fuel index rose 36.2% year on year in October, as the petrol and diesel price increases continued.
Fleet Fuel Cost Index, % change
Unchanged published July basket; September and October 2026.
October brought another fuel-price step
The AutoBridge Fleet Fuel Cost Index rose 5.7% month on month and 36.2% year on year in October 2026. September’s corresponding readings, calculated with the same basket, were 5.1% and 29.6%.
The latest month therefore added a larger monthly increase while the annual comparison widened. For a fuel budget following the series’ fixed mix, October increased the pressure already visible in September.
October brought another fuel-price step
The AutoBridge Fleet Fuel Cost Index rose 5.7% month on month and 36.2% year on year in October 2026. September’s corresponding readings, calculated with the same basket, were 5.1% and 29.6%.
The latest month therefore added a larger monthly increase while the annual comparison widened. For a fuel budget following the series’ fixed mix, October increased the pressure already visible in September.
Fleet Fuel Cost Index, % change
Unchanged published July basket; September and October 2026.
Petrol carries most of this basket
The October official detail puts petrol 6.0% above September and diesel 6.2% higher, while gas fuel was unchanged. Year on year, the respective changes were 37.1%, 61.3% and 0.6%.
Petrol-related use has the largest weight in the published basket. That explains why the combined result sits much closer to the petrol movement than the diesel movement. The basket remains fixed at the series’ July composition, allowing the new reading to follow prices on a consistent basis.
What the index measures for a buyer
This is a modelled liquid-and-gas fuel-price indicator. Its consumption assumptions are 9.5 L/100 km for petrol cars, 6.0 for hybrids, 4.0 for plug-in hybrids, 7.5 for diesel and 12.5 for LPG. A driver’s own calculation uses the chosen car’s actual consumption and travel distance.
Electric charging belongs in a separate electricity budget. The index helps follow the fuel component when considering petrol, diesel, gas or hybrid alternatives alongside their purchase prices.
Connect the monthly reading with the car search
On 9 November, cleared hybrid offers had a $14 000 median ask and a 2019 median model year. Cleared petrol offers centred on $13 000 and 2017. These broad profiles provide starting points for a closer model-by-model search.
The October index gives the running-cost trend; the available car and its expected use supply the personal budget. The official reference month is October 2026, and the AutoBridge offer was read on 9 November 2026.
Asking prices and advertised characteristics. Reading date: 9 November 2026.
Methodology
AutoBridge advertised passenger cars and the public sources linked below.
Asking prices, advertised vehicle characteristics and the stated official reference period.
Reading date: 9 November 2026.