Owners of diesel cars have been told they should expect more pain in the coming weeks as forecasts show the fuel is going to continue to get more expensive.
The average UK price for a litre of diesel currently stands at 180.29p/litre, according to RAC Fuel Watch data, while unleaded is 166.65p/litre and super unleaded weighs in at 178.67p/litre.
2012 was the last time prices at forecourts and independent retailers rocketed but, even then, they were considerably lower than what they currently are. Diesel was 142.42p/litre and unleaded was 136.6p/litre ten years ago.
The lowest fuel has been in the last two decades was 2002, with the average diesel price sitting at 75.6p/litre and petrol 73.5p/litre.
Reacting to the news that the average price of a litre of diesel has hit a new record, RAC fuel spokesperson Simon Williams said: “Sadly, despite the Chancellor’s 5p a litre duty cut the average price of a litre of diesel has hit a new record high at 180.29p/litre.
“Efforts to move away from importing Russian diesel have led to a tightening of supply and pushed up the price retailers pay for diesel.
“While the wholesale price has eased in the last few days this is likely to be temporary, especially if the EU agrees to ban imports of Russian oil.”
All motorists are going to be hard hit moving forward but those who run diesel-powered vehicles will feel the squeeze more acutely, warned Williams.
“Unfortunately, drivers with diesel vehicles need to brace themselves for yet more pain at the pumps,” he said.
“Had Mr Sunak reduced VAT to 15% as we called on him to do instead of cutting duty by 5p, drivers of diesel vehicles would be around 2p a litre better off, or £1 for every full tank.
“As it is, drivers are still paying 27p VAT on petrol and 29p on diesel, which is just the same as before the Spring Statement.
“The average price of petrol is also on the rise having gone up nearly 3p/litre since the start of the month to 166.65p which means it’s less than a penny away from the all-time high of 167.30p set on 22 March.”
