New Delhi, June 16 (TIWN) Fuel prices recorded eighth consecutive hike on Sunday, taking the total increase since the resumption of the dynamic price revision system to more than Rs 4 per litre.

In Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, petrol was priced at Rs 82.70, Rs 79.53 and Rs 77.64, higher from Rs 82.10, Rs 78.99 and Rs 77.05 per litre respectively.

Diesel prices in these cities were Rs 72.64 (Mumbai), Rs 72.18 (Chennai) and Rs 69.80 (Kolkata), compared with Rs 72.03, Rs 71.64 and Rs 69.23 respectively on Saturday.

The increase in prices varies across metros, depending on the tax structure on products in various states.

Prices of transportation fuel were halted under the dynamic pricing policy after March 16 and post that there were few instances of price hike only when the respective state governments hiked VAT or cess.

In a bid to increase revenues during the nationwide lockdown, several state governments raised taxes imposed on transportation fuel.

Already, the gap between cost and sale price of petrol and diesel for OMCs reached around Rs 5-6 per litre. If this has to be covered over a period of time, given there is no further increase in global prices, auto fuel prices may be increased by 40-60 paise per day for a few more days to cover the losses.

The increase in retail prices under daily price revision would largely depend on prevailing oil prices and the global oil market at the time.