Fuel prices are expected to ease for the first time in nearly a year, easing pressure on motorists.

This is after the cost of refined fuel imported into the country nosedived.

Business Daily reports that the cost of imported refined fuel that will be used to determine prices in the monthly cycle starting Friday midnight has dropped 10 percent to $105.96 per barrel down from the $117.53.

The fall in the cost of refined fuel has led to significant drops in the prices of imported super, diesel and kerosene setting the stage for a fall in the pump prices and a reprieve for consumers beset by a spike in the cost of living.

The average landed costs of imported oil are the single biggest determinants that the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) uses to calculate pump prices.

Other determinants are the exchange rates of the shilling against the dollar, pipeline and storage costs and margins for the oil marketers.

The shilling has weakened marginally since the last monthly review meaning that barring any last-minute changes, pump prices will drop from Friday midnight.

Currently, a fuel is retailing at record highs of Sh179.30 a litre in Nairobi while diesel is going for Sh165 and Sh147.94 per litre of kerosene.

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