The government has opted not to extend the excise tax decrease, and gasoline prices are increasing again after weeks of steady decline. While diesel changes minimally, gasoline is once again on the rise, mostly due to freeway service stations. Drivers should expect an average price increase of roughly 3 euros each tank: the measure's non-renewal raises the price by 5 cents per liter, which, when combined with VAT, equals an additional 6.1 cents every liter emitted. A clear market anomaly exacerbates the situation's contradictory nature. While the price of crude oil is falling sharply—down to $70 per barrel from $120 only three months ago—retail prices are following independent trends that are unconnected to the raw material's worth. Service station owners are denying claims of speculation and, through their trade unions, blaming the illegal hydrocarbon trade. This scourge deprives the state of around €12 billion in taxes each year, which is equivalent to more than 10 cents per liter that could be left in the purses of people and truck drivers. This harm is six times more than the €2 billion set aside by the state to manage prices during the energy crisis caused by the Strait of Hormuz blockade. For industry representatives, the only viable solution remains a comprehensive structural reorganization.