The average cost of filling a typical family car with petrol has exceeded £100 for the first time, staggering new figures show. The RAC's fuel tracking data says the average price of unleaded petrol now stands at 182.31p per litre, with diesel at 188.05p per litre.
RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said the average price of petrol crossing the “thoroughly depressing threshold of £100 a tank” meant it was “a truly dark day” for drivers. He went on: “There’s almost certainly going to be upward inflationary pressure, which is bad news for everybody.
“While fuel prices have been setting new records on a daily basis, households up and down the country may never have expected to see the cost of filling an average-sized family car reach three figures.” Mr Williams said many people will be hoping for further financial support from the Government as the 5p per litre cut in fuel duty “looks paltry” because wholesale petrol costs have increased by five times that amount since it was implemented in March.
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“A further duty cut or a temporary reduction in VAT would go a long way towards helping drivers, especially those on lower incomes who have no choice other than to drive,” he added. Sharp rises have been recorded over the past two years.
According to a graph on the RAC Fuel Watch website - which can be viewed here - the average price of unleaded and diesel have been following month-on-month during 2022:
- January 1 - 145.55p per litre of unleaded and 148.75p per litre of diesel.
- February 1 - 146.62p unleaded and 149.99 diesel.
- March 1 - 151.67p unleaded and 155.23 diesel.
- April 1 - 163.30p unleaded and 177.44p diesel.
- May 25 - 170.62p unleaded and 181.52 diesel.
In 2020 petrol averaged 115.53p per litre compared with 155.47p per litre so far in 2022. AA fuel price spokesman Luke Bosdet said: “The £100 petrol tank has been dreaded and been particularly nasty for workers refilling their cars with the post-jubilee return to work.
“The more than 8p-a-litre leap in average petrol costs over a week has been a huge shock.”
