SYDNEY motorists were treated yesterday to the cheapest petrol in six weeks but are still to see the full effect of the recent drop in international oil prices.

The average price for unleaded petrol yesterday was 155.7 cents a litre, three cents less than the same time last week and the cheapest daily average since June 11. It follows a drop of more than $US15 ($15.40) in the price of Malaysian-produced tapis crude oil, the regional benchmark, since last Wednesday.

The federal petrol commissioner, Pat Walker, said that it usually took more than a week for savings to be passed on here. He expected prices to fall by about 10 cents a litre.

Jonathan Dart