The price of fuel and home heating oil has continued to drop in Northern Ireland.
Both petrol and diesel are down by three pence in the past week while the price of home heating oil has also fallen with 900 litres costing £40 less than it did a week ago.
The latest update from the Consumer Council's Fuel Price Checker shows that a litre of petrol costs an average of 182.3p and diesel 188.3p per litre, as of Thursday, 28 July .
But these prices are still a long way off the prices of a year ago - back then petrol cost 130.7p per litre while a litre of diesel was 132.2p.
Updated figures show the price of petrol has fallen, too, reducing on average from 189.9p per litre last week to 189.4p per litre.
That's down from from 191.0p for diesel and petrol prices of 185.6p a week ago.
According to the latest update, the Consumer Council the lowest price for diesel of 179.6p was found in an Omagh forecourt followed by Armagh at 179.9p per litre.
The dearest diesel was found in Bangor at an average cost of 192.1p per litre.
One Belfast filling station had the lowest petrol cost at 169.9p while in Strabane it's currently costing 174.3p on average, closely followed by Newry at around 175.9p.
The dearest petrol price was found in Ballycastle at an average of 188p per litre.
The highest prices for both petrol and diesel are being paid by drivers in Antrim, Ballycastle and Newtownards, on average.
| TOWN | DIESEL - AVERAGE | DIESEL - HIGHEST | DIESEL - LOWEST | PETROL - AVERAGE | PETROL - HIGHEST | PETROL - LOWEST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antrim | 191.9p | 193.9p | 189.9p | 186.9p | 189.9p | 182.9p |
| Armagh | 180.9p | 181.9p | 179.9p | 179.9p | 179.9p | 179.9p |
| Ballycastle | 191.9p | 191.9p | 191.9p | 188p | 188p | 188p |
| Ballyclare | 188.8p | 192.9p | 183.9p | 185.2p | 187.9p | 181.9p |
| Ballymena | 191.9p | 193.9p | 189.9p | 182.4p | 182.9p | 181.9p |
| Ballymoney | 189.4p | 191.9p | 186.9p | 181.4p | 187.9p | 174.9p |
| Banbridge | 188.6p | 189.9p | 187.9p | 184.9p | 186.9p | 182.9p |
| Bangor | 192.1p | 193.9p | 189.7p | 182.2p | 185.9p | 174.9p |
| Belfast | 189.3p | 196.9p | 181.9p | 184.1p | 190.9p | 169.9p |
| Carrickfergus | 185.9p | 185.9p | 185.9p | 181.9p | 183.9p | 179.9p |
| Coleraine | 189.2p | 189.9p | 188.7p | 182.8p | 182.9p | 182.7p |
| Cookstown | 186.2p | 186.9p | 185.7p | 180.8p | 186.9p | 174.9p |
| Craigavon | 189.9p | 189.9p | 189.9p | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data |
| Downpatrick | 191.4p | 193.9p | 188.9p | 187.5p | 189p | 185.9p |
| Dungannon | 185.9p | 186.9p | 184.9p | 181.2p | 183.9p | 179.9p |
| Enniskillen | 187.8p | 190.7p | 184.9p | 177.8p | 178.9p | 175.7p |
| Limavady | 189.4p | 189.9p | 188.9p | 178.9p | 179.9p | 177.9p |
| Lisburn | 189.9p | 189.9p | 189.9p | 183.9p | 185.9p | 181.9p |
| Londonderry | 185.9p | 188.9p | 183.9p | 178.4p | 180.9p | 175.9p |
| Magherafelt | 188.9p | 189.9p | 187.9p | 181.9p | 185.9p | 174.9p |
| Newcastle | 187.9p | 187.9p | 187.9p | 180.9p | 180.9p | 180.9p |
| Newry | 187.9p | 187.9p | 187.9p | 175.9p | 175.9p | 175.9p |
| Newtownabbey | 189.9p | 189.9p | 189.9p | 185.9p | 185.9p | 185.9p |
| Newtownards | 190.8p | 191.9p | 189.7p | 187.9p | 187.9p | 187.9p |
| Omagh | 179.7p | 179.9p | 179.6p | 177.1p | 179.9p | 175.6p |
| Portadown | 186.8p | 187.9p | 185.7p | 181.8p | 181.9p | 181.7p |
| Strabane | 187.3p | 190.7p | 183.9p | 174.3p | 175.7p | 172.9p |
The Consumer Council's latest figures also show the price of home heating oil has reduced in Northern Ireland.
Their weekly price checker shows the average cost of 900 litres is £773.48, while consumers can expect to pay around £437 for 500 litres and £275 for 300 litres - a reduction of £11 on average.
| COUNCILS | 300L AVERAGE | 500L AVERAGE | 900L AVERAGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antrim & Newtownabbey | £272.76 | £428.93 | £758.74 |
| Ards & North Down | £268.23 | £427.53 | £755.80 |
| Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon | £286.10 | £448.93 | £797.45 |
| Belfast | £271.21 | £429.47 | £760.38 |
| Causeway Coast & Glens | £273.82 | £439.92 | £778.69 |
| Derry City & Strabane | £274.50 | £440.50 | £779.30 |
| Fermanagh & Omagh | £270.93 | £436.04 | £767.68 |
| Lisburn & Castlereagh | £267.05 | £425.84 | £751.89 |
| Mid & East Antrim | £272.94 | £434.61 | £767.29 |
| Mid Ulster | £279.85 | £443.36 | £788.41 |
| Newry City, Mourne & Down | £275.83 | £439.79 | £777.68 |
The Consumer Council in Northern Ireland, which is encouraging people to use public transport where possible, also has advised customers on they can save money.
Tips on saving fuel from the Consumer Council:
- Keep your tyres inflated - reduce the drag
- Declutter your car - Less weight means less fuel
- Don’t fill your car up – fuel is heavy
- Brake and accelerate less – they burn fuel
- Avoid stopping and starting where possible – roll up slowly
Consumers can get in touch with the Consumer Council for free independent advice by calling Freephone 0800 121 6022 or by emailing contact@consumercouncil.org.uk.
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