Castrol announced last Friday a general price increase of up to 4% on all Passenger Car, Commercial and ancillary products, including synthetics, in all package types, effective May 6, 2013. Castrol added that "In certain instances, price changes for certain products may fall outside of this general percentage amount". .
On March 11, Shell Oil Products US (SOPUS) announced a general price increase of up to 4% on its lubricants, effective April 15, 2013. Shell likewise added that "In certain instances, the effective date of change and the amount of the price change for specific products may be at a later date and/or an amount outside of this range." Shell went on to say that the increase is due in part to increasing costs of raw materials used in the production and delivery of its products.