The RAC’s latest instalment in its ‘Fuel Watch’ programme warns that consumers are in for “a costly Christmas on the roads” due to a tank of diesel costing £2.11 more on average than it did at the end of October, while a tank of petrol is £1.17 more.
The firm says unleaded rose by an average of 2.17ppl last month and diesel 3.84ppl, the latter representing the fastest price rise since April 2024. The UK average price for a litre of unleaded currently stands at 137.17p, with diesel pegged at 146.57p.
Prices for unleaded and diesel rose respectively by 2.46p and 3.6p at supermarkets, with fuel there priced at 134.48p/143.08p on average.
The RAC says that “with the expense of Christmas just around the corner” it “believes the jump in pump prices will come as a disappointment to drivers”, highlighting that compared to this time last year petrol is 0.5p per litre more expensive, and diesel 4p up.
This marks the second consecutive month the breakdown and insurance firm has opted not to criticise fuel retailers’ margins, which follows a Forecourt Trader investigation into the RAC’s own significant profitability.
The company’s head of policy, Simon Williams, comments: “Not only is it one of the most expensive times of the year, it’s also a time when many of us drive hundreds of miles to celebrate with family and friends over the extended break, making it a costly Christmas on the roads.”
