Fuel sales plunge by 1bn litres

08/07/11

By Gemma Roberts

One billion fewer litres of petrol and diesel were purchased during the first three months of 2011 compared with the same period in 2008, the AA has revealed.

Between January and March this year 835 million fewer litres of petrol and 247 million fewer litres of diesel were bought by motorists than in the pre-recession period three years ago.

Petrol sales have fallen by 15.2 per cent and diesel by 6 per cent when compared with the 2008 figures, the AA shows.

The decline may have been driven by austerity and rising fuel costs at the start of 2011, which saw petrol up by 7.94p a litre and diesel by 10.51p.

The drop also saw the Treasury lose out on more than £637 million in tax from January to March.

AA president Edmund King said: "Will drivers' finances show some resilience or have car-owning family budgets been so badly wounded that recovery needs a far greater stimulus?"