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Average UK petrol and diesel prices hit record high, new data shows

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The average UK petrol price has surpassed 148p for the first time, new figures have revealed.

According to the AA, petrol has jumped to 148.02p per litre on Sunday – rising above the previous record high of 147.72p on 21 November last year.

Pump costs for diesel have piled yet more misery on motorists and businesses owners as they increase to a new record high of 151.57p per litre.

The latest news on the cost of living crisis

A man filled up a canister at a busy petrol station in London, Monday, Oct. 4, 2021. British military personnel have begun delivering fuel to gas stations after a shortage of truck drivers disrupted supplies for more than a week, leading to long lines at the pumps as anxious drivers scrambled to fill their tanks. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) PIC:AP
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The rise has seen the nation’s drivers paying more to fuel their cars. Pic: AP

“The cost of living crisis has been ratcheted up yet another notch, tightening the vice on family spending when it faces other pressures from impending domestic energy cost and tax increases,” says Luke Bosdet, the AA’s fuel price spokesman.

On Monday morning, Brent crude oil prices surged to a new seven-year high of more than $95.40 (£70.59) per barrel.

After pump prices last hit record highs in November, the AA polled 15,335 of its members to gauge the impact this would have on personal and family spending.

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It found 43% of motorists are cutting back on car use, other consumer spending or both – hitting 59% for the youngest drivers and 53% for lower-income motorists.

Among the 8,361 people of working age (excluding those aged 65 and above), 10% were cutting back on weekly shopping, rising to 17% among 25 to 34 year olds.

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said the average cost of filling a 55-litre family car is now £81.41.

Read more: How an extra five litres of petrol helped cause the country to grind to a halt

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“With the oil price teetering on the brink of $100 a barrel and retailers keen to pass on the increase in wholesale fuel quickly, new records could now be set on a daily basis in the coming weeks,” he added.

“The oil price is rising due to tensions between Russia – the world’s third-biggest oil producer – and Ukraine, along with oil production remaining out of kilter with demand as the world emerges from the pandemic. As a result drivers in the UK could be in for an even worse ride as pump prices look certain to go up even more.

“On a positive note, retailer margins – which were the reason drivers paid overly high prices in December and January – have now returned to more normal levels of around 7p a litre.

“We urge the big four supermarkets, which dominate fuel sales, to play fair with drivers and not to make a bad situation on the forecourt any worse by upping their margins again.”

Cost of living crisis: Eat or heat

What is fuelling the cost of living crisis?

  • Record high diesel and petrol prices.
  • National insurance will increase 1.25 percentage points in April.
  • A 54% increase in the energy bill’s price cap will see the typical household energy bill rise by £639 – taking it to £1,971 a year.
  • A freeze on the student loan repayment threshold will equate to a real-terms £150 increase in the amount students will repay each year.
  • Inflation climbed 5.4% in December – its highest rate since March 1992 – which has seen prices for food, furniture, and clothing surge. The Bank of England has forecast inflation will rise to 6%.
  • Interest rates have increased from 0.1% to 0.25% which means repayments on high-interest debt – and mortgages – have increased. But it is hoped this will eventually decrease inflation in the long term.
  • Train fares to rise by 3.8%.

In recent months, motoring groups have accused fuel retailers of being quick to pass on rising wholesale costs and slow to reflect falls.

However, petrol retailers have argued that their pricing is more complicated, pointing out that their own costs – from things like wages and energy – have also shot up and been reflected in pump costs.

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Why is the cost of living soaring?

The spike comes amid a wider cost of living crisis, which will see British households paying more to maintain their standard of living.

Millions will see their energy bills rise to a typical £1,971 a year while national insurance will increase 1.25 percentage points from April.