How to cut petrol costs as prices rise to their highest levels since July 2014
The soaring prices are a result of speculation around oil prices, which experts say fuel retailers have exploited to push up the price of petrol and diesel for drivers
FUEL prices keep on rising and in bad news for motorists, they've now hit their highest point in four years.
The price of petrol reached an average of 131.58p a litre this week - its highest price since mid-July 2014.
But diesel is even costlier at 136.66p a litre, which is the highest average since the middle of March 2014.
Just a month ago, petrol prices stood at 131.32p a litre, while diesel was 134.35p a litre, according to the latest AA Fuel Price Report.
The soaring prices are a result of speculation around oil prices, which fuel retailers and their suppliers have exploited to push up the price for drivers, says the AA.
“Pump prices waste no time in going up when wholesale costs rise. But, when those costs fall away, any pump price reductions never seem to reflect the full saving," said Luke Bosdet, the AA’s fuel prices spokesman.
"This has created a background trend of continually rising prices for the consumer - adding another 2p to a litre or £1 to a tank of petrol as the industry profits more from fuel.
“What is galling for the Government is that, having won the favour of drivers by announcing a further freeze of fuel duty, the consumer won’t see any of it if the fuel industry continues to use wholesale savings to bump up its profits," Mr Bosdet added.
Ways to cut down on your fuel costs
HERE are some tips on how you can slash the cost of fuel
- 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. PetrolPrices.com and Confused.com allows you to search prices of UK petrol stations. 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
Tesco shopper? Here's how to get 10p a litre off petrol.
In the end of last month, Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury's cut petrol by up to 2p per litre sparking a fresh supermarket war.
Earlier this month, Theresa May froze fuel duty AGAIN in victory for The Sun as she scrapped the 2p a litre tax rise.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 78 24516. Don't forget to join the for the latest bargains and money-saving advice.