FOR those on the road regularly, the big drop in the fuel price has bought reasons to cheer.
Livestock & Rural Transport Association of SA president David Smith said the drop was a "welcome" surprise.
He said the decrease had enabled his company to adjust its fuel levy for customers.
"It's come down close to 40 cents a litre," Mr Smith said. "Fuel was the biggest cost for many in the industry. It has been pretty welcome."
The stark difference in fuel prices between metropolitan and rural areas could be attributed to when fuel was purchased.
"Fuel is set as a daily price but any fuel reserve bought at the dearer price has to be recouped somehow," Mr Smith said.
He said he would like to think that as the more expensive reserves run out, the price would go down even more.
Diesel prices are comparable across the state and the RAA places the average price for Adelaide at $1.20c/L, in line with average regional prices.
But unleaded prices on Wednesday varied greatly between regional centres and Adelaide, with the city averaging 99c/L compared with $1.14/L 100 kilometres away at Murray Bridge, and up to $1.22/L at Ceduna.
RAA senior analyst Chris West said the December Regional Fuel Star ratings showed there was still a substantial lag in passing the price-drops along to consumers.