Petrol prices soar with biggest rise in 18 years as cost of filling up jumps to £71 a tank
Last month Brits' saw the biggest fuel price hike in at least 18 years according to RAC Fuel Watch, with the cost of filling a family car with unleaded going up £3.29.
DRIVERS were hit with the worst monthly petrol price rise in 18 years in May as filling up a tank rocketed by an average 6p-a-litre.
The RAC branded the rise as "a hellish month for motorists" with the cost of filling a 55-litre family car increasing by £3.29 to £71.18.
The new RAC Fuel Watch data has revealed average prices of both petrol and diesel have gone up every day since 22 April, the longest sustained price increase since March 2015.
RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “May was a hellish month for motorists.
"Sadly, they have been besieged by pump price rises for three months with nearly 9p a litre being added to petrol since the beginning of March.”
The increase is because of a hike in oil prices, as well as the weakening of the pound against the dollar.
Barrels of oil rose by 3% in May and there has been a 2% drop in the value of the pound to the dollar.
Three ways to cut down your fuel costs
- Make your car more fuel-efficient. You can do this by keeping your tyres inflated, taking the roof rack off, emptying your car of clutter and turning off your air con when driving at lower speeds.
- Find the cheapest fuel prices. Use PetrolPrices.com. All you need to do is enter in your postcode and tell it how far you want to travel (up to 20 miles)
- Drive more efficiently. Some ways to do this, include:
- Accelerate gradually without over-revving
- Always drive on the highest possible gear
- If you can, allow your car to slow down naturally as your brake is a money burner
- Re-starting your car is expensive, if you can, keep moving
Simon Williams added “The rising oil price together with a weaker pound is a punitive combination for anyone that drives regularly.
"For many people there is little alternative to the car for the majority of journeys they have to make so it is therefore very difficult to avoid feeling the pinch of rising pump prices.”
He also says that he expects things to improve following a meeting with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, along with Russia.
The area most affected by the petrol price hike is the North West (5.98p per litre), with Northern Ireland seeing the smallest increase (5.07p a litre).
Regional average unleaded pump prices
| Unleaded | 01/05/2018 | 30/05/2018 | Change |
| UK average | 123.43 | 129.14 | 5.71 |
| North West | 122.74 | 128.72 | 5.98 |
| East Midlands | 123.24 | 129.20 | 5.96 |
| Yorkshire And The Humber | 122.57 | 128.42 | 5.85 |
| West Midlands | 122.99 | 128.80 | 5.81 |
| Scotland | 123.21 | 129.01 | 5.80 |
| South West | 123.55 | 129.35 | 5.80 |
| Wales | 123.18 | 128.88 | 5.70 |
| South East | 124.19 | 129.83 | 5.64 |
| East | 123.88 | 129.43 | 5.55 |
| London | 124.22 | 129.74 | 5.52 |
| North East | 123.09 | 128.24 | 5.15 |
| Northern Ireland | 123.32 | 128.39 | 5.07 |
Regional average diesel pump prices
| Diesel | 01/05/2018 | 30/05/2018 | Change |
| UK average | 126.27 | 132.06 | 5.79 |
| Wales | 125.96 | 132.03 | 6.07 |
| Scotland | 126.40 | 132.35 | 5.95 |
| South West | 126.48 | 132.33 | 5.85 |
| Yorkshire And The Humber | 125.46 | 131.28 | 5.82 |
| East | 126.74 | 132.54 | 5.80 |
| North West | 125.92 | 131.72 | 5.80 |
| West Midlands | 125.73 | 131.53 | 5.80 |
| Northern Ireland | 125.31 | 131.05 | 5.74 |
| East Midlands | 126.23 | 131.91 | 5.68 |
| London | 126.90 | 132.57 | 5.67 |
| North East | 125.65 | 131.31 | 5.66 |
| South East | 127.07 | 132.73 | 5.66 |