Petrol stations have explained exactly how much money they make each time someone fills up their car - and it's not as much as you might think. Fuel costs have soared in recent weeks with the average price of petrol reaching a record high of 185p, but that doesn't mean petrol forecourts are getting more money.
In fact, each sale is making filling stations mere pence, according to garages in Wales. The Brian Llewelyn A'i Ferched garage in Pembrokeshire took to Facebook to post about a recent exchange with one of its customers, Wales Online reports.
"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'."
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The garage went on to offer a breakdown of how much they actually make from sales to show petrol stations are not the ones benefitting from soaring prices. 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.
The post added that 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."
Figures from data firm Experian show the average price of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts climbed to a record 185.0p on Sunday. That was an increase of 7.1p in just a week. The average price of diesel was 190.9p per litre on Sunday.
Figures from price comparison website PetrolPrices show filling stations at motorway service areas are charging up to 202.9p per litre for petrol.
It comes as the competition regulator announced it will carry out a “short and focused review” of fuel prices following a request from business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng on Saturday. Andrea Coscelli, chief executive of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), said record pump prices are “causing significant concern” for millions of people and expressed concern that the 5p per litre cut in fuel duty implemented in March has not stopped prices from soaring.
The prime minister's spokesperson has said there are “no plans” for a further fuel duty cut despite calls from industry experts.
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