Drivers buying diesel at petrol stations are facing increased costs after fuel prices rose for the second consecutive month, the RAC has warned.
The average price of diesel went up by almost 2p per litre between June and July according to new analysis of RAC Fuel Watch data. The figures show that the average price of a litre of diesel at the end of July cost 142.58p – an increase of 1.64p from 141.21p. Petrol prices have also gone up from 134.15p per litre to 135p – a rise of 0.85p. These increases follow respective rises of 2p and 3p in June, meaning petrol prices have gone up almost 3p and diesel by 4.5p since June 1.
It means that the cost of filling a 55-litre family car will now set drivers back £74.26 for unleaded petrol, while diesel drivers will pay £78.57 on average. According to the RAC, petrol is now at its most expensive point since mid-April, while diesel was last at its highest in the third week of March this year.
Filling up at a supermarket can help drivers to save money as a litre of petrol costs around 131.5p on average, or 130p for diesel, both of which are almost 4p cheaper than the UK averages.
Northern Ireland remains the cheapest place to buy fuel in the UK, with a litre of unleaded averaging just 128p and diesel 134.5p. This is just slightly more than the price at membership-only retailer Costco, which was charging an average of 125.6p for petrol and 133.2p for diesel at its 20 forecourts across Great Britain at the end of July.
In England, unleaded prices off the motorway range by 34p from 125.7p to 159.9p, while in Scotland they go from 125.7p to 152.9p (27.2p) and in Wales from 127.7p to 142.9p (15.2p).
But in Northern Ireland there’s just a 12p difference between the lowest and highest prices, from 124.9p to 136.9p.
RAC fuel spokesperson Simon Williams said: “Unfortunately, drivers heading into the busy summer holiday season will be met with rising prices at the pumps, as the cost of fuel increased in July for the second month running.
“While the average price of petrol for the year so far is just a couple of pence above the average for all of 2021, drivers are still meant to be benefiting from a 5p-a-litre fuel duty discount (52.95p as opposed to 57.95p) which has been in place since the start of the Ukraine War in early 2022.
“Our analysis of the difference between wholesale and retail prices shows retailer margins remain high, particularly on petrol. This is emphasised by the fact the average price of unleaded in Northern Ireland is 7p cheaper than the average across the UK.
“Drivers may also see significant differences on forecourt totems from area to area which can be very frustrating. To buy the best value fuel it’s important to keep an eye out for the lowest prices around. Alternatively, start using a free mobile app such as myRAC to find the cheapest fuel near you.”