PUMP WOES: Petrol prices hit five-month high as pump costs continue to rise
The price of petrol in the UK has reached its highest level since last September, with drivers facing five consecutive months of rising costs, according to RAC Fuel Watch.
A litre of unleaded rose by 0.65p in February to 139.65p, the most expensive since 6 September 2024, when it stood at 139.81p. Diesel prices also climbed, increasing by 0.73p to 146.48p, a level last seen on 29 August 2024.
Filling up a family-sized petrol car now costs £76.81, nearly £3 more than in early October when the price was £73.88. A full diesel tank now exceeds £80, rising to £80.56, up over £4 from last October’s £76.45.
Supermarkets are undercutting the national average, selling unleaded at 137.36p per litre and diesel at 143.91p. Some locations near Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-upon-Tyne are offering petrol at just 127.7p per litre. Independent forecourts are also providing lower prices, with one in Shropshire selling unleaded for 126.9p and diesel for 135.9p.
Drivers in Northern Ireland continue to benefit from the lowest fuel costs. At the end of February, unleaded averaged 132.9p per litre—nearly 7p less than the UK average—while diesel stood at 138.9p, more than 6p lower.
Rising pump prices have been driven by higher wholesale costs, influenced by a jump in oil prices, which peaked at $82 a barrel in mid-January. Increased demand during the winter cold snap and uncertainty surrounding the change in the US presidency contributed to the surge. However, oil prices have been falling in recent weeks, which could soon lead to lower fuel costs at the pumps.
RAC fuel spokesperson Simon Williams said: “It’s disappointing to see pump prices up yet again in February, with drivers now facing some of the highest costs at forecourts since the end of last summer. Motorists were the unfortunate casualties of rising wholesale prices through January, not helped by global oil prices hitting the $82-a-barrel mark in the middle of the month.
“But we hope better times are on the horizon. With wholesale fuel costs falling throughout February, there’s a good prospect petrol and diesel prices will come down this month as retailers buy fresh stock at lower prices. As always, it really does pay to shop around because pump prices at supermarket sites vary by as much as 13p a litre.”
