A Welsh filling station has explained the profit it makes from a sale after a customer complained to the business: "I was going to put fuel in but not at that price.”
The fuel cost crisis has seen petrol prices rise since late February by an average of 24p a litre (to 182.31p) and diesel by 30p (to 188.05p). The cost of filling an average family car has now reached £100.27 for petrol and £103.43 for diesel as demand for non-Russian crude oil has grown and the pound has struggled against the dollar.
The Brian Llewelyn A'i Ferched garage at Eglwyswrw, Pembrokeshire, posted on Facebook about an exchange with a customer who despaired at the recent surge. "Tonight we had one customer turn up after we had put the pole signs off, as we were closing," the post read. "This person pulled up to the pump, saw it was 193.9p per litre. They came into the shop and said, 'I was going to put fuel in but not at that price.'
"I said, 'I'm sorry, but it's not my fault'. For everyone that is thinking that it is the petrol forecourt themselves that are making the money at the moment, here’s a quick breakdown of how little forecourts actually make from the price of fuel."
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The business explained that a £100 sale of diesel at 193.9p per litre accounted for 51.57 litres of diesel — with a 4p-per-litre profit that leaves £2.06 for the filling station. And if the £100 is paid using a credit card, the card firm charges £1.69 in interest for the transaction. That leaves the garage with 37p — and that is before taking out overheads such as electricity, maintenance and wages.
A similar rundown was shared by the Gulf Tanerdy Garage, a family-run petrol station on the edge of Carmarthen, which posted on Facebook: "Whilst as a local business we totally understand the frustrations with all the price increases, ESPECIALLY the fuel that helps you get to and fro, we have given you an honest breakdown of your spend on petrol/diesel.
"Of £50 that you spend on fuel at Tanerdy or Gwalia this week we forward the following: Tax (fuel duty): £13.94. Tax (VAT): £8.33. Gulf: £26.35. Total £48.62. We keep £1.38 to pay rates, energy costs, wages, national insurance, pension contributions etc."
You can read our interviews here with people in Wales whose jobs have come under threat because of the fuel cost crisis. For the latest coverage on fuel prices click here.
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