The expense of filling up a family vehicle with fuel has increased by nearly £5 since early September, the RAC reported on Tuesday. The motoring services organisation stated that the average cost per litre of petrol at British forecourts reached 170.54p on Tuesday, while diesel rose to 192.86p.
Diesel prices are now at their highest level since July 29, 2022, while petrol costs haven’t been this elevated since August 23, 2022, according to the RAC.
Prices appear likely to continue their upward trajectory as oil barrels are now consistently trading above 100 dollars, according to RAC head of policy Simon Williams.
“Since the start of this month, the cost of filling a family car has already risen by almost £5, to £94 for petrol and £106 for diesel,” he said.
“So the pressure on the Chancellor to act to support households, so many of whom are dependent on the car, is building.
“Fuel duty is set to start rising from January, but as we’ve said previously, there is a strong argument for leaving it at its current level, at least until the end of the Parliament.”
Earlier this month, oil prices climbed above 100 dollars per barrel for the first time since July following the latest round of strikes in the Iran war.
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “Six months into the conflict in the Gulf and drivers have paid billions of pounds in ‘war premiums’ over and above what they might have expected to pay had oil and pump prices remained near the level they were before the war began.
“The bad news is that they are likely to pay billions more before peace is restored. The Government can’t end the war, but it can recognise the financial hit to drivers and businesses caused by surging petrol and diesel prices.
“Surely the Chancellor is considering a cut in fuel duty at the budget to reverse this hike in the cost of living? It’s worth remembering that the Exchequer currently receives more than 80p per litre of fuel sold on the forecourts, in the form of duty and VAT.”
The Treasury has been contacted for comment by the Press Association.
