Calls to pass fuel price cuts on

19/08/11

Kev Kiernan

Petrol pump prices have not being reduced in line with the level of reductions seen in the wholesale price of fuel, the AA has said.

The price of a litre of wholesale petrol is 3p cheaper now than it was last week, yet fuel at petrol stations has only been cut by 1p.

Average pump prices are 135.71p a litre of petrol and 139.89p a litre of diesel, as measured mid-August.

On last year's prices drivers are paying around 20p extra for a litre of fuel: petrol is up 19.22p, diesel is up 20.91p.

A 50-litre petrol tank costs an extra £9.61 to fill compared with a year ago, translating into a two-car family having to find an extra £40.81 to keep their motors running.

The AA's Paul Watters said: "Many independent retailers seized their chance over the past fortnight to undercut two of the major supermarkets and, with a six-mile-or-more round trip to a superstore costing a litre of petrol, cash-strapped consumers may have looked closer to home for their fuel and top-up shopping."