NRMA spokeswoman Rebecca Page said average petrol prices have declined in Orange and other Central West centres in the past two weeks.

“The prices are expected to fall for another two weeks unless the retailers hike them,” she said.

Fuel prices have come down from a four-year high in October.

The average petrol price in Orange on Monday was 144.9 cents per litre, compared with 156.9 cents per litre on October 17.

One year ago – on Deember 3, 2017 – the average petrol price in Orange was 133.3 cents per litre.

On Monday, the mean price of fuel in Bathurst was 144.5 cents per litre, and 153.4 cents per lire in Dubbo.

But despite a steep recent fall in average fuel prices in Sydney, the difference between fuel costs there and in Orange remained high.

The mean petrol price in Sydney on Tuesday was 126.2 cents per litre.

Ms Page said Lithgow was an interesting Central West fuel market, as it always tended to have cheaper petrol prices despite having only four service stations.

“This is because of the volume of motorists coming from other towns knowing where the bargains can be found in the region,” she said.

“Service stations in … Orange are not doing anything illegal in keeping their prices higher than Lithgow.

“Retailers are entitled to charge whatever they want.”