Wholesale prices of petrol and diesel now the same but pump price disparity remains
Pump prices are at a six-month high.
Government data shows that the UK’s average price of a litre of petrol stands at £1.28, while diesel costs £1.35.
This means the cost of filling the tank of a 55-litre family petrol car has increased by nearly £4 in the past six weeks, and more than £2 for diesel cars.
The last time prices were higher than current levels for either fuel was November 2018, according to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy figures.
Steve Gooding, director of motoring research charity the RAC Foundation, said:
“Since the start of the year the wholesale cost of petrol has increased faster than that of diesel and now the two fuels are leaving the refineries at about the same price.
“Yet diesel is still several pence per litre dearer than petrol at the pumps. It seems that retailers are keen to hang on to their profit margins where they can and drivers are paying the price.”
ENDS
Contact:
Philip Gomm – Head of External Communications – RAC Foundation
[email protected] | 020 7747 3445 | 07711 776448 | 020 7389 0601 (ISDN)
Notes to editors:
The RAC Foundation is a transport policy and research organisation that explores the economic, mobility, safety and environmental issues relating to roads and their users.
The Foundation publishes independent and authoritative research with which it promotes informed debate and advocates policy in the interest of the responsible motorist. All the Foundation’s work is available at: www.racfoundation.org