That was the warning that sent New Zealand motorists rushing to the fuel pumps yesterday.
The message of an imminent sharp increase in fuel prices came from Waitomo Group managing director Jimmy Ormsby, who said the price jump was the largest he had seen.
Continued uncertainty over the Ukraine crisis and the ban on Russian fuel by the US and UK had caused supply issues, he said.
"A jump of this level is going to hurt motorists and businesses big time."
The company kept its prices down until 6pm.
A Waitomo spokesman said prices would be increasing by close to 30c for diesel and 20c for petrol.
Yesterday at 9pm, Waitomo Eastgate prices were $2.86 for 91, $3.01 for 95 and $2.20 for diesel.
NPD Andy Bay charged $2.69 for 91, $2.81 for 95 and $1.95 for diesel.
McKeown Dunedin prices were $2.76 for 91, $2.88 for 96 and $2 for diesel.
Prices increased noticeably throughout the week in Queenstown, BP Frankton’s going from $3.11 for 91 on Monday to $3.34 yesterday.
The price for 91 was the same at Caltex Queenstown, BP Queenstown and Z Queenstown yesterday.
Mobil Queenstown priced its Supreme petrol at $3.49.
Almost all customers spoken to at NPD Andy Bay in the early afternoon had heard of the coming increase.
Truck driver John Lloyd said he was taking his second car out to be filled up to make sure he got as much cheap petrol as possible.
Fuel had been going "through the roof" lately and there was no knowing how expensive the war between Ukraine and Russia would make it, he said.
Aaron Webster said he did not need to fill the tank, but was tactically getting fuel while it was cheap.
Rural industries have called for the Government to lower fuel taxes as they struggle to keep up with prices.
Rural Contractors chief executive Andrew Olsen said yesterday contractors would have to pass the increased costs on to farmers, which would lead to increased food prices.
AA fuel price spokesman Terry Collins said the fuel market was in a volatile state, but it should become more stable in the long term.
It would not just be the price of fuel that rose, but all products made from oil, such as car parts, rubbers and plastics.
A BP spokesman said the company reviewed prices daily.
A Z Energy spokesman said it reviewed prices daily and did not discuss the timing of any changes as it could be considered price signalling. — Additional reporting The New Zealand Herald/RNZ
