Fuel prices fell for the second consecutive month but not by as much as they should have with a litre of petrol reducing by 3p and diesel by nearly 4p, shows analysis by RAC Fuel Watch.
At the end of June the average price of petrol across the UK was just under 145p a litre – down from 148p at the start of the month. Diesel dropped to under 150p (150.13p) for the first time since early February, from 153.74p. This means it now costs around £80 (£79.76) to fill up a 55-litre family car with petrol and £82.57 for the diesel equivalent.
While the cost of oil began June trading under $80 a barrel it steadily increased, finishing the month around $86. But even though this increase has caused the wholesale price of fuel to go up slightly, it remains the case that both petrol and diesel are still too expensive on forecourts in England, Wales and Scotland.
Only drivers in Northern Ireland are getting a fairer deal at the pumps as a litre of petrol there sells for an average of just 140.5p – 4.5p cheaper than the UK average. Diesel is 142p – an incredible 8p less than the UK-wide price.
He added, “It’s also the case that while oil has increased from under $80 at the start of June to the mid-$80s by the end, wholesale costs are still low enough to merit cheaper prices at the pumps. Looking at the fairer average prices charged in Northern Ireland, petrol should be 4.5p lower across England, Scotland and Wales and diesel should be a whole 8p less.
“We will continue to highlight this disparity, along with the massive differences between major retailers’ high and low prices, to the new government and the Competition and Markets Authority with a view to them being addressed by the new Pumpwatch scheme when it is up and running.”
Petrol bought at the 535 sites run by oil giant Shell is the most expensive in the UK at an average of 149p – 4p more than the UK average and 8.5p more than in Northern Ireland.
BP-operated forecourts are not far behind with an average of 146.5p. Shell also has the highest average for diesel at 155p – 5p more than the UK average and a whopping 13p more than the average in Northern Ireland. BP’s average is 152p across the 287 sites it owns and runs.
