Diesel prices have hit a new high as the RAC claims retailers have increased their profits following the fuel duty cut introduced in March.
The average price of a litre of diesel at UK forecourts was 179.7p on Monday (16 May), up from 178.4p a week earlier, figures from Figures from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy show. The average price of petrol on Monday was 165.1p per litre, narrowly below the record of 165.4p set on March 21, based on the government’s figures.
Separate fuel price statistics by data firm Experian Catalist, using a different methodology, show average prices on Monday were 180.3p per litre for diesel and 166.8p per litre for petrol. Chancellor Rishi Sunak introduced a 5p per litre cut in fuel duty on March 23 to help motorists struggling with the cost of living squeeze.
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But now the RAC has said retailers are taking an average profit of 2p per litre more than before the policy was implemented. The firm’s analysis showed the average margin for a litre of petrol and diesel is currently 11p and 8p respectively. In the month up to the duty cut it was 9p for petrol and 6p for diesel.
The Manchester Evening News has compiled a list of 15 places supplying some of the cheapest petrol and diesel fuel across Manchester and a bit further afield. All these locations are within 15 miles from the centre of Manchester and all data was collated from PetrolPrices.com.
Petrol prices can vary depending on supply and demand. These prices were correct at the time of writing (Tuesday, May 17) but could change quickly as gas prices continue to increase.
Cheapest unleaded petrol in and around Manchester
1. Costco Oldham, 154.7p
2. Costco Manchester, 156.7p
3. Asda Harpurhey, 159.7p
4. Asda Ashton-under-Lyne, 159.7p
5. Alkrington service station, 159.8p
6. Sainsburys Bolton, 159.9p
7. Morrisons Openshaw, 160.7p
8. Morrisons Eccles, 160.7p
9. Morrisons Failsworth, 160.7p
10. Morrisons Oldham, 160.7p
11. Morrisons Bredbury, 160.7p
12. Morrisons Dunkinfield, 160.7p
13. Morrisons Hyde, 160.7p
14. Asda Farnworth, 160.7p
15. Morrisons Bolton Dawes, 160.7p
Cheapest diesel prices in and around Manchester
1. Costco Manchester, 171.7p
2. Costco Oldham, 171.7p
3. Asda Harpurhey,173.7p
4. Asda Ashton-under-Lyne, 173.7p
5. Asda Chadderton, 173.7p
6. Alkrington service station, 173.8p
7. Sainsburys Denton, 173.9p
8. Morrisons Denton, 173.9p
9. Shell Bury (Gem Tottington), 173.9p
10. Sainsburys Bolton, 173.9p
11. Asda Hulme, 174.7p
12. Asda Eastlands, 174.7p
13. Morrisons Openshaw, 174.7p
14. Morrisons Eccles,174.7p
15. Asda Trafford Park, 174.7p
PetrolPrices.com covers major service stations including brands like BP, Shell, and Texaco as well as supermarkets, smaller chains and independent stations. The website combines price data from Catalist with its own crowdsource data, which comes from website users and forecourt owners.
The site says it hopes to have "the most up to date and reliable price data across the industry".
