The presence of a latent factor in gasoline and diesel prices co-movements

Abstract

This paper proposes a novel approach to identify the presence of a latent factor in the co-movements of gasoline and diesel prices in the three major European Union economies, (France, Germany, and Italy) using daily data from January 3, 2005, to June 28, 2021. More precisely, we advance an artificial neural networks algorithm estimated through a machine learning experiment through the backpropagation system to show that the neural signal is altered by an element that could coincide with a latent factor in the fuel price co-movements. We consider the role of the fuel tax systems and the connection between gasoline and diesel prices in these countries. The estimations indicate the presence of an unobservable component (the latent factor) in the fuel price co-movements, capable of influencing NN. This result validates the previous findings reported in the literature, indicating an excess co-movement in fuel prices. It also has implications in terms of fuel price forecasts in the short run.