The average price diesel in the UK has now passed the psychological £2 a litre mark, having hit record highs earlier in the week.
Analysis by the RAC Foundation of data from the government’s Fuel Finder service shows that the price broke through this level at 8 o’clock this morning.
Latest prices are currently displayed on the front page of the RAC Foundation website.
Eighty six pence (43%) of the £2 goes to the chancellor goes to the Treasury in a mix of fuel duty (currently set at 52.95p per litre on both diesel and petrol) and VAT, which is levied on both the product price and the duty.
The price of petrol is 174.7p per litre. Eighty two pence (47%) of this is tax.
The tax take on fuel and the latest pump price breakdown can be found in the data section of the Foundation website.
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said:
“The average price of diesel has just passed the psychological £2 a litre mark. Eighty six pence of that goes straight to the chancellor in tax, a mix of fuel duty and VAT. If this government wanted to help drivers and businesses it could cut the amount of tax it takes.
“The prime minister says politics is about choices. Unfortunately most of the nation’s drivers don’t have the choice of whether to make a journey or not. They have to take the financial pain being inflicted on the forecourts.
“There are around 4.6 million vans and 10.3 million cars powered by diesel on the UK’s roads with a further 18.9 million cars fuelled by petrol.
Contacts:
Philip Gomm – Head of External Communications – RAC Foundation
[email protected] | 07711 776448
Notes to editors:
The RAC Foundation is a transport policy and research organisation which explores the economic, mobility, safety and environmental issues relating to roads and their users.
It is a registered charity. Charity number: 1002705.
The Foundation publishes independent and authoritative research with which it promotes informed debate and advocates policy in the interest of the responsible motorist. For more information visit www.racfoundation.org