Drivers hit by fuel price hikes – and there’s no relief in sight

Motorists have been hit with fuel price rises for the sixth month in a row – and there is ‘no end in sight’ as the cost of oil soars, the RAC has warned.

Average pump prices reached 127.19p per litre for petrol and 129.73p for diesel in April – the highest since January 2020, analysis by the motoring group found.

Some motorway service stations are fleecing drivers by charging £10 over the national average for a tank of fuel.

Meanwhile, campaigners accused retailers of ripping off diesel motorists. 

The average cost of a litre of diesel is about 2.5p more than petrol, although the wholesale price is the same.

Fuel costs have soared since December from 114.5p a litre for petrol and 118p for diesel. 

The cost of filling up the average family car has gone up about £7 for unleaded and nearly £6.50 for diesel.

Much of the increase is down to global oil prices, with the cost of a barrel jumping from about $40 in December. 

The RAC’s fuel spokesman, Simon Williams, said: ‘April marks six months of rising petrol prices and sadly there’s no end in sight as oil is getting perilously close to hitting $70 a barrel. If oil breaks this threshold, it will inevitably spell more bad news for drivers at the pumps.’

Hugh Bladon, of the Alliance of British Drivers, called the cost of diesel ‘profiteering at a time when more people are getting into their cars and going out’.

It comes as Department for Transport figures show traffic on Britain’s roads on Sunday April 25 and Saturday May 1 had returned to prepandemic levels. 

Numbers of goods vehicles were up to 118 per cent higher, while car use stood at between 95 per cent and 96 per cent.