Asda has "at last" lowered the cost of fuel for drivers - and the RAC has called on other major supermarkets to do the same after months of eye-watering prices at the pumps.
According to data from the RAC, Asda has knocked an average of 4.5p off the cost of a litre of unleaded across its 320 stores over the last two days, and around 5.5p off diesel too. But the RAC has argued that the drop in prices "should have come much sooner", after repeatedly accusing supermarkets of failing to pass on wholesale savings down to customers.
The motoring company has previously urged motorists to shop around away from the major supermarkets for their fuel, saying that smaller independent forecourts can often be found "offering more competitive prices" than the larger retailers. Just last month, the RAC insisted that drivers were still being charged "unnecessarily high" costs for fuel at supermarkets as it called on them to lower their pump prices.
READ MORE: Is petrol cheaper at Costco than at other supermarkets? Locations and price comparisons
RAC spokesman Simon Williams said of Asda's new pump prices: "Asda is now charging an average of 153.5p for petrol and 176.7p for diesel which is around 2p less than its rivals. We urge the other three supermarkets to catch up quickly – or go even further – and give drivers some much-needed relief from high prices next time they fill up. If they do, this will bring the UK average petrol price down from its current 157.8p which benefits drivers everywhere."
He added: "Despite these reductions, our analysis of wholesale data shows this should really be just the beginning as there’s easily scope for another 10p a litre to come off the current average price of both petrol and diesel. Perhaps it will be Asda which once again takes a leadership position by further cutting its prices to help drivers save money in the run-up to Christmas."
Earlier this week, motorists were warned that petrol and diesel prices could increase once again after the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) announced that it will cut oil production by roughly two million barrels per day. The RAC have advised drivers to make small changes to boost their fuel efficiency and help keep costs down.
This includes regular maintenance and servicing, as well as holding back on excessive speeding and accelerating gently while on the road. They added that the AC should only be used when "absolutely necessary" as it takes power from the engine and impacts fuel consumption.
READ NEXT:
-
December strikes - dates of industrial action planned by nurses, train unions and Border Force
-
Where your Cold Weather Payment temperatures are recorded by DWP for the North East
-
Heating on all the time or not? Martin Lewis answers age-old question
-
Christmas Bank Holidays - how benefit payments will be affected
-
DWP: 11 freebies and discounts you can try to claim if you get PIP
