Petrol and diesel drivers to see fuel prices get 'even worse' with urgent calls for action
The RAC has warned drivers that prices are 'stubbornly static'
GETTY
Petrol and diesel drivers were charged nearly £80 for filling up their cars last month with experts warning that fuel prices remain “stubbornly static”.
In July, drivers were charged roughly 5p more than necessary for petrol and at least 8p more for diesel, which equates to nearly £3 more every time they fill up.
Prices for petrol have remained stagnant at 145p, while diesel has also stayed at 150p per litre over the past few months.
RAC analysis of wholesale prices, however, found that retailers are still charging an additional 13p a litre for unleaded, up 3p in July, and 14.5p for diesel.
Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailingmotoring@gbnews.uk
Tesco offers the cheapest petrol prices of any supermarket
PAThe organisation argued that drivers are paying “well above” the long-term averages of 8p and to stop overpaying, prices should drop to 140p for unleaded and 142p for diesel.
Looking at prices by region, drivers in Northern Ireland continue to benefit from cheaper fuel, paying 140p for petrol and 142p for diesel.
The RAC also revealed that a full tank of petrol for a 55-litre car priced at 145p per litre would cost nearly £80 in the UK, whereas drivers in Northern Ireland would pay £77.
As for diesel, under its current price of 150p, drivers are paying just over £82 in the UK whereas for the same fuel, they are charged £78 in Northern Ireland.
Supermarkets continue to operate at different prices across the country with some stations charging 142p for petrol and 147p for diesel.
For example, buying petrol at an Asda motorway service station will see drivers pay 18p a litre - the highest price of any supermarket.
It compares to the 7p per litre difference at Tesco forecourts which was found to offer the cheapest prices for drivers.
Simon Williams, head of policy at the RAC, explained that it was disappointing to see fuel prices remaining higher than they should be.
Last month, the Competition and Markets Authority revealed that drivers were overcharged £1.6billion last year. As a result, the CMA stated it would be stepping in to help settle prices and stop drivers being ripped off.
Williams said: “We sadly can’t see pump prices reducing much further without retailers’ acting on what the CMA is saying and finally introducing some much-needed fairer pricing strategies.
“It must be incredibly galling for drivers to see the UK average price of petrol stubbornly static at 145p when the wholesale cost merits lower pump prices – something clearly demonstrated by the fact those in Northern Ireland are paying 5p less. For diesel, things are even worse as the price difference is 8p.”
He added that the introduction of the Government’s PumpWatch scheme will be a welcome move to help monitor prices.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Fuel prices have remained at 145p for petrol and 150p for diesel in recent months
PAMeanwhile, Howard Cox, founder of FairFuelUK, warned that the Government is allowing fuel supply businesses to get away with “dishonest pricing”.
He stated: "When are our clueless elected national politicians to wake up to the UK’s 37 million drivers and our struggling economy needlessly being hit with some of the highest pump prices in the world?
“Cut fuel duty and make PumpWatch work for consumers, and small businesses in order to boost the economy. Is anyone in the economically out-of-touch anti-motorist Government listening?”
You may like
