The head of the Competition and Markets Authority has provoked anger amongst forecourt operators after saying the watchdog will “call out” fuel retailers if it detects “signs consumers are being ripped off” during the Iran conflict.
Writing on LinkedIn, CMA executive director Juliette Enser said:
“We understand public concern about the cost of fuel in light of the situation in the Middle East. We are closely monitoring how prices at petrol stations develop and we will call it out if there are signs consumers are being ripped off.”
Referring to the mandatory Fuel Funder price reporting scheme, which the CMA has statutory responsibility for enforcing, she added:
“We also have the power to fine petrol stations that do not provide their data drivers need to easily compare fuel prices.”
Esner’s comments immediately drew criticism from the sector. Gordon Balmer, executive director of the Petrol Retailers Association, announced he would be writing to the CMA “requesting clarification of this post”.
Independent forecourt operator Johnny Srikrishna suggested the CMA “look at the daily Platts price”, while Guy White, who runs The Laurels Service Station in Horncastle, Linconshire, suggested the organisation might consider if it would “call me a rip off face to face”, adding that Enser should “look at my cost price and my daily overheads”.
Oil rose to a high $120 on Monday March 9 and, while it has since settled to around $90 a barrel, this represents a 50% increase compared to just two weeks ago. Forecourts have put their retail prices up as a result, with smaller independent operators particularly hard hit as a result of paying for wholesale fuel on a daily spot basis, rather than a two-week lag.
The CMA did not provide comment when asked, instead opting to share a link to a blog post it made in November 2025.
