Petrol and diesel prices at the pumps should be lower says fuel campaign group which claims 'drivers being fleeced'

A group that campaigns for fairer fuel prices at UK garage forecourts says that drivers are being "fleeced by the profiteering fuel supply chain and even their own Treasury".

FairFuelUK says that between June 1 and August 15 Brent oil price in Sterling fell 20 per cent and that wholesale petrol dropped 34.5p/litre and diesel’s wholesale cost was down 18.4p – yet over the same period petrol at the pumps increased 1p and 2p respectively.

The group says:

• The average retail profit over the last 10 years for petrol considering a two-week lag time in ordering bulk fuel is 11.48 per litre, yet on August 15, 2022, it is at 32.11p – 179 per cent more profit per litre on petrol over 10 years.
• The average retail profit over the last 10 years for diesel considering a two-week lag time in ordering bulk fuel is 13.75 per litre, yet on August 15, 2022, it is at 32.38p – 135 per cent more profit per litre on diesel over 10 years.

• On August 8 the UK’s petrol price was 26p/litre higher than the average prices in the EU, and UK diesel price 34p higher than the EU.
• On August 8 only 8 out of 167 countries worldwide have petrol more expensive than the UK, and for diesel only 5 out of 167 countries are more expensive.

Howard Cox, founder of FairFuelUK said: "The Government must wake up and recognise that it's time drivers and the nation are stopped being fleeced by the profiteering fuel supply chain and even their own Treasury.

"Pump profits are now at their highest, billions of extra VAT are flowing into Number 11 and the CMA is completely clueless and definitely not protecting consumers or the economy by not seeing blatant fuel supply chain racketeering. Yet again, we are seeing an inept political administration clueless as to how to solve the cost-of-living crisis.

"Its staring them in the face, cut fuel duty 25p and create PumpWatch to finally secure honest and transparent pricing at the pumps.”

FairFuelUK is a public affairs team with no shareholders to satisfy. It describes itself as an "award-winning campaign representing the real concerns of hard-working motorists, families, small businesses, commercial drivers and hauliers across the UK".

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