The RAC has accused supermarkets of overcharging for fuel as the UK enters the festive period during a cost-of-living crisis.
According to RAC Fuel Watch, this Christmas is set to be the most expensive ever on the roads with petrol and diesel both at record highs.
Petrol is currently being sold for an average of 152.96ppl, which is 7ppl more than it was on 22 December 2021 (145.66ppl), and diesel is 27ppl more expensive on average than it was a year ago (148.95ppl) at 175.75ppl, which was previously the most expensive Christmas ever for drivers.
However, the RAC asserts that the average wholesale price of petrol has fallen to 106ppl – the same price it was this time last year – and this year’s price includes the government’s 5ppl fuel duty discount which was introduced in March to ease the pain of rising fuel prices caused by Russia invading Ukraine.
The average wholesale price of diesel has dropped to 126ppl, which is 14ppl more expensive than just before last Christmas (112ppl).
According to the RAC the average price of petrol should be around 138ppl, which is 15ppl less than it is, and that diesel should be around 160ppl, which is 13ppl cheaper than it is now.
RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “With the cost-of-living crisis making this one of the toughest Christmases on record, it is even more galling to know drivers are being heartlessly overcharged for fuel making this the most expensive ever festive getaway on the roads.
“The big four supermarkets, which dominate UK fuel retailing, have robustly refused to significantly lower their forecourt prices to reflect what’s happened with the substantial reduction in the price of wholesale fuel that they are enjoying.
“We now have a bizarre situation where many smaller independent retailers are charging far less for their fuel than the supermarkets. The trouble is after years of the supermarkets being the cheapest place to fill up many drivers automatically assume this is still the case and may be losing out as a result.
“We urge the supermarkets to properly cut their petrol and diesel prices to give drivers the Christmas present they deserve. Sadly though, having seen a similar situation last year where the biggest retailers failed to pass on much lower wholesale costs, we’re not holding out much hope they will do the right thing this year. We suspect they’re just going to try to tough out all our calls for price cuts in the hope the price of oil will go back up in the new year.
“The only consolation for drivers is that both petrol and diesel have fallen a long way from their summer highs of 191.pl for unleaded and 199.09ppl for diesel.”
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