Italian energy analyst Davide Tabarelli has advised motorists to refuel soon, saying petrol prices are set to rise considerably, HuffPost Italia reported on Monday, 14 September 2026.
Speaking to the outlet, Tabarelli framed the recommendation as a practical one: filling the tank now, before the increase reaches the pumps. HuffPost Italia carried his remarks under a headline urging drivers to go and buy fuel.
His warning comes as crude oil prices push higher. According to ANSA, West Texas Intermediate was trading at $103.31 a barrel. Corriere della Sera reported a spike to $110 a barrel and pointed to knock-on pressure on inflation and interest rates. Sky TG24 linked the rise to a halt on a Saudi oil pipeline and to risks tied to artificial intelligence, while La Stampa attributed the run-up in oil and gas prices to an "Iran effect" and noted heightened tension in US government bond markets.
The reports describe a broad move across energy markets rather than an isolated jump in one benchmark. Rising crude costs typically feed through to refined fuel prices with a lag, which is the mechanism behind Tabarelli's advice to drivers.
For Italian households, the immediate question is how quickly higher crude prices appear at the pump, and how far they travel into wider consumer costs. The next signals to watch are whether oil holds above $100 a barrel and whether the reported pipeline disruption is resolved.
