Supermarkets cut the cost of petrol as criticism mounts over high fuel prices

Published 17 October 2019

Supermarkets are cutting the price of fuel amid mounting criticism that petrol and diesel in the UK is too expensive.

From today, Asda is cutting 3p-per-litre off the price of diesel and 2p off unleaded petrol. Sainsbury’s and Morrisons are reportedly introducing similar cuts in forecourt prices from tomorrow (18 October).

The move comes amid mounting criticism that fuel retailers in the UK are slow to pass on wholesale savings to their customers.

Since the beginning of October oil has been trading around $60 a barrel, falling at one point to $57.74 which has caused the wholesale price of petrol to fall steadily since 7 October.

Fuel Pump - Petrol

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “Drivers are losing out badly, paying around 7p-per-litre more for petrol than they should be. The average price of petrol is 128p (127.58p) so should be 121p. This means a driver filling up a 55-litre family car is paying £3.85 too much (£70.40 today, instead of £66.55).

“Drivers can always tell when pump prices are too high as they will see supermarkets offering them significant money off at the pumps after spending certain amounts in store,” added Williams.

As of Friday (18 October) morning any driver filling up at an Asda petrol station will pay no more than 121.7p-per-litre on unleaded fuel and 125.7p on diesel.

Asda Senior Fuel Buyer Dave Tyrer said: "With wholesale costs falling and half term just around the corner, we’re pleased to be able lower the cost of fuel and pass these savings onto our customers. Drivers filling up at an Asda filling station will pay no more than 121.7ppl on Unleaded and 125.7ppl on diesel."

Comments

on 21 October 2019

Tesco is down to 121.9p/l for unleaded petrol which is good news too.

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Model Flyer on 21 October 2019

Good to see prices falling although there still a big disparity between petrol and diesel prices ? If we all went back to petrol engined cars then the price difference would reverse . Still a bit of a rip off.

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soldierboy 001 on 22 October 2019

In Spain pump prices chang more regularly than the UK at least daily, I follow the barrel price on red button daily as part of my routine of various checks and the Spanish price reflects the barrel prices.

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Marcus T. on 22 October 2019

Lucky you. 133.9-139.9p/l around my way for diesel and 131.9-137.9 p/l for petrol. It has been at these prices nearly all this year. I was shocked when travelling some distance to visit family, and saw diesel 14p/litre cheaper than what I have to pay.

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Plodding Along on 27 October 2019

It's really no surprise when we live in this awful- "money is all that matters", rip off country.

The so called government doesn't care one iota about how we are constantly ripped off on fuel as it just means their share via tax is kept high. It is only when you drive in America that you see what a complete rip off our fuel prices are. We were in Texas the other week and I filled, from empty, the Jeep Compass we had rented for $27! I know it's a much bigger country, and people have to drive long distances, but as our public transport is so shockingly bad as well as outrageously expensive, we have very few options other than to drive. And the government are so out of touch with reality that they still think a car is sone kind of luxury!

Edited by Plodding Along on 27/10/2019 at 10:02

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