Petrol prices exceed £1.70 per litre for first time
The average price of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts on Tuesday was 170.4p, according to data firm Experian Catalist.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Average petrol prices have exceeded £1.70 per litre for the first time, new figures show.
The average price of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts on Tuesday was 170.4p, according to data firm Experian Catalist.
Diesel also reached a record high of 181.4p per litre.
Petrol has become around 41p per litre more expensive over the past 12 months, adding around £23 to the cost of filling a typical 55-litre family car.
RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said the price of petrol has reached “another unfortunate landmark”.
“While wholesale prices may have peaked for the time being last week, they are still worryingly high, which means there’s no respite from the record-high pump prices which are so relentlessly contributing to the cost-of-living crisis,” he said.
“We badly need the Government to take more action to ease the burden on drivers, which we hope will feature in its announcement expected this week.
“VAT at 20% on fuel is currently benefitting the Treasury to the tune of around 30p a litre, which seems very unfair when you consider it’s a tax on a tax as fuel duty – despite being cut to 53p a litre at the end of March – is charged at the wholesale level.”
Yet another milestone of misery along the road of record pump prices
AA fuel price spokesman Luke Bosdet said petrol has passed “yet another milestone of misery along the road of record pump prices”.
He added that there is “still quite some variation in pump prices among fuel stations in most areas”, and it is “particularly galling” when supermarkets of the same brand charge “significantly more” at one superstore compared with another in the same region.
Labour’s shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh said working people are facing “brutal price hikes” and accused the Government of having “literally nothing to offer”.
She continued: “Labour’s plan would help households through this crisis funded by a one-off windfall tax on the oil and gas giants.
“The Conservative Government needs to set out an emergency budget to tackle its cost-of-living crisis – and support Labour’s call to put money back in the pockets of working people.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.