Fuel prices hit ANOTHER record high: Price at petrol pump climbs to 178.5p
Fuel to hit £2 a litre in WEEKS with average cost to fill a family car set to rise to ‘unbelievable’ £110 as drivers share where pumps are hitting highest prices around the country
The RAC has called for ‘radical government intervention’ in wake of price surgesFilling average 55-litre car now costs £98.18, increasing by 33p in just two days The average diesel price is now 185.2p, meaning £101.86 to fill up the typical car How much is fuel in your area? Email me at laurence.dollimore@mailonline.co.uk
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Fuming drivers have blasted the soaring cost of fuel with record prices at the pumps today, as the RAC declared a ‘national fuel crisis’ which could soon see £2 per litre become the norm.
Some stations have already crossed the 200p threshold, including a Gulf petrol garage in Essex and another forecourt on the M6 in Cumbria, according to road users.
Among the most outrageous was a BP garage on the A1 near Sunderland, which was selling a litre of unleaded and diesel for 202.9p and 204.9p respectively.
Motorists have complained of eye-watering prices elsewhere, including 197.9p per litre of unleaded at a Texaco garage in Wales – which was more expensive than the diesel, on offer at 194.9p.
Meanwhile, a forecourt in Fontwell, West Sussex, was selling diesel for 191.9p per litre, while one motorist in Southampton reported a price of 194.9p.
It came as petrol prices set a new record of 178.5p per litre this morning after soaring by 0.6p in just 24 hours, as the war in Ukraine and supply chain issues continue to ramp up wholesale costs.
The cost of diesel also surged to an average price of 185.2p per litre. It is the largest weekly increase for both fuels since March.
The timing could not be worse as Brits struggle with the cost of living crisis, exacerbated by a 9% inflation rate.
Some businesses face a huge financial burden as a result of the price increases, with freight companies reporting that the cost of running one lorry is already up £20,000 on last year, leaving the haulage industry ‘in crisis.’
The RAC had already warned that ‘frightening’ petrol prices will exceed an average of 180p per litre this week in what it described as a ‘national fuel crisis’.
The motoring body called for ‘radical government intervention’ after figures from data firm Experian Catalist showed petrol prices soared by nearly 6p per litre over the half-term school holiday.
SUNDERLAND: The 200p per litre threshold has already been breached at forecourts across the country. This BP garage at the Washington services on the A1 was selling unleaded and diesel for 202.9p and 204.9p respectively on Tuesday
ESSEX: A fuming motorist in Great Horkesley reported petrol being sold for £2 per litre
FONTWELL, WEST SUSSEX: The cost of diesel has also surged to an average price of 185.2p per litre, with a forecourt in Fontwell showing an extortionate 191.9p (pictured today)
STOKE-ON-TRENT: The price of petrol is displayed as a staggering 186.9p per litre at a gargae near Stoke-on-Trent today (June 7)
WALES: Motorists complained of eye-watering prices at forecourts across the country on Tuesday, including 197.9p per litre of unleaded at a Texaco garage in Wales (pictured) – which was more expensive than the diesel, on offer at 194.9p
CUMBRIA: Road user claims fuel is being sold at £2.04 per litre along the M6
CRANLEIGH, SURREY: A Shell garage is selling petrol at 190.9p per litre and diesel at 195.9p
WITHAM, ESSEX: An Esso garage been listing 189.9 per litre for both unleaded and diesel since the end of last week, a local told MailOnline
PADIHAM, LANCASHIRE: Unleaded is MORE expensive than diesel at 197.9p per litre, compared to the latter’s 194.9p
SHREWSBURY: One MailOnline reader was shocked to see petrol at £1.979 per litre at the Thieves Lane garage in Shropshire. They told MailOnline: ‘I hadn’t checked as it was 30p less last week and I assumed it was the same price, I was horrified when I realised… Thieves Land indeed!’
Government figures show the average price of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts on Monday was a record 175.6p, up 6.6p from 169.0p seven days earlier.
Average diesel prices increased by 3.7p per litre over the same period, reaching 185.3p.
That was the largest weekly increase for both fuels since March.
RAC fuel spokesperson Simon Williams said: ‘The cost of filling a 55-litre family car with petrol has now topped £98 for the first time in history as a result of a litre hitting a new all-time high of 178.5p on Monday.
‘Diesel also rose to yet another record by reaching 185.2p which takes the cost of a tank to £101.86.
‘With analysts predicting that oil will average $135 a barrel for the rest of this year drivers need to brace themselves for average fuel prices rocketing to £2 a litre which would mean a fill-up would rise to an unbelievable £110.
‘The oil price is rising due to increased demand for fuel across the world as China eases its Covid restrictions and America and Europe go into the peak summer driving season.
‘All this combined with a weaker pound at $1.2 means wholesale fuel costs more for retailers to buy.’
He added: ‘The wholesale price of diesel is fast approaching 160p a litre which, when you add 7p retailer margin and 20% VAT, would take the pump price over the £2 mark.
‘We strongly urge the Government to take drastic action to help soften the impact for drivers from these never-before-seen pump prices.’
Lesley O’Brien, director of Freight Link Europe, told the BBC’s Today programme: ‘This certainly is a crisis as we’ve seen fuel prices escalate over the last year by 50 per cent and no sight of a stop, so we absolutely as an industry need to keep on top of this.
‘As a country we need to understand we need to support our transport industry which is the infrastructure of the whole economy.’
Ms O’Brien said fuel was a third of her business’ running costs, adding that the cost of running a lorry has increased from around £41,000 to more than £61,000 since last year.
She said her company added a fuel surcharge to its bills, to cover fluctuating prices.
She added: ‘But never before has it been so high,’ she said. ‘As an example, to run one of my artic vehicles is now costing me £20,000 more per year than in did last year.’
The RAC had earlier demanded more action from the Government following the 5p-per-litre cut in fuel duty implemented in March.
Spokesperson Mr Williams said: ‘A litre of unleaded is now a frightening 177.88p while diesel is 185p, an increase of 2p already this month.
Unknown forecourt in the UK shows diesel being sold at 199.9p per litre
Motorists blast the rising cost of fuel, with one reporting 194.9p per litre of diesel in Southampton
‘With oil now above 120 US dollars a barrel and sterling still at 1.2 US dollars, worse is still to come.
‘Sadly, we expect to see the average price of petrol break through the 180p mark this week, with diesel moving further towards 190p.
‘More radical government intervention is urgently needed, whether that’s in the form of a further reduction in fuel duty or a VAT cut.
‘As it is, drivers surely won’t be able to cope unless something is done to help.
‘This is fast becoming a national crisis for the country’s 32 million car drivers as well as countless businesses.’
AA fuel price spokesman Luke Bosdet said: ‘Shock and awe is the only way to describe what has been happening at the pump during the half-term break.
‘Little wonder that nearly half of drivers stayed at home for the Jubilee extended bank holiday.
‘The forces behind the surge have been oil jumping back above 120 US dollars a barrel for the first time since late March, combined with petrol commodity prices being boosted by summer motoring demand.’
Motorists took to social media today to blast the surging fuel prices which are only worsening the ongoing cost of living crisis.
