Overview

• Benzinpreis.de reported over 95,000 cases of rapid price changes at German gas stations between May 12 and May 18, 2025, with many prices valid for less than 15 minutes.
• More than 11,200 stations were found to alter prices within 15 minutes, and 3,800 stations raised prices again within just five minutes.
• The average duration of price reductions was only 7.5 minutes, making it nearly impossible for app users to locate and benefit from the discounts in time.
• The Bundeskartellamt acknowledges the phenomenon but has declined to intervene, citing the legality of unlimited price changes as long as they are reported.
• Consumer groups and Benzinpreis.de are urging legal warnings and legislative caps on price-change frequency to address what they describe as misleading tactics.