Motorists cut back as petrol peaks

05/10/11

By Chris Gibbings

Record fuel prices have prompted a 5 per cent fall in petrol sales, causing more motorists to consequently cut back on driving in the first six months of the year.

The AA motoring body reported that the Treasury has seen its fuel duty take fall by £985 million due to the drop in volumes from January to June, the equivalent of 517.2 million litres.

Sales fell by 3.9 per cent in the first quarter and by 6.6 per cent in the second, with petrol reaching 137.43p a litre and diesel 143.04p.

But sales at superstores saw a 0.4 per cent rise, compared with an 11.8 per cent fall at non-supermarket retailers.

AA president Edmund King said many motorists are losing mobility as they cannot afford record forecourt prices, adding: "There is no downplaying the impact of record fuel prices on family and other people's lives."