And although the petrol price on average has been stable for the past fortnight at 141.3 cents per litre, it is still 24 cents a litre above the terminal gate price.

The price is higher in other parts in the state though with Burnie recording an average of 145.6 cents per litre last weekend.

RACT spokesman Darren Moody said the variations between wholesale and retail prices generally rested between 9 to 12 cents per litre.

This means that Burnie motorists are paying three times as much as the usual differential between terminal gate and retail prices.

Wholesale petrol prices were pushed up in December after OPEC countries in December agreed to reduce crude oil output in an effort to reduce global stockpiles.

Launceston recorded an average of 132.8 cents per litre for the first week of January when the wholesale price was 126.8 cents.

Mr Moody said the wholesale price had been dropping progressively for the past six weeks, to reach 116.7 cents per litre, though this hadn’t been reflected on petrol price boards.

He said he believed by now even small to medium-volume retailers would be rid off their more expensive petrol stock.

“We can’t put our finger on any particular reason other than to say that it’s a profit grab,” Mr Moody said.

“And we’re predicting in the coming weeks, the wholesale price is going to drop further.

“We would be of a view that a price around the $1.30 mark would be where retail prices should be at.

“And even at that, it's still a 13-plus cent margin to allow for freight costs and things like that.”

According to the last Australian Institute of Petroleum weekly petrol pricing report, Tasmanian regional towns are at least 10 cents above all but a few other regional towns. They are on par with a handful of regional towns in Queensland and Western Australia, however.