The price of diesel for a typical family car has hit more than £100 for the first time and the RAC has warned that the “worse is sadly yet to come” for motorists.
Data firm Experian Catalist figures show that the average price of a litre of fuel hit 182.7p on Saturday and on Sunday it was 182.6p, bringing a full tank of diesel for a 55-litre diesel car to almost £100.50.
Families thinking of driving away for their holidays and pleasure trips over the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday which begins on Thursday.
AA fuel price spokesman Luke Bosdet said, “Diesel’s new record price is the latest nail in the coffin of the diesel car, after it had been demonised for its emissions in an urban environment.
“However, a diesel car’s 15%-20% better fuel consumption compared to a petrol equivalent out on the open road means less CO2 emissions, and would it make it more attractive were it not for the current higher cost of refuelling.”
RAC fuel spokesperson Simon Williams added, “With crude oil prices consistently above $115 a barrel last week, worse is sadly yet to come just in time for the Jubilee bank holiday, particularly as petrol is now more expensive than diesel on the wholesale market.
“Due to the rapid rise in the cost of wholesale unleaded, retailers are now taking smaller margins on petrol but larger ones on diesel.
“If the wholesale price of petrol stays above diesel, we ought to see the current 10p-a-litre gap in average petrol and diesel forecourt prices narrow.
“If this doesn’t happen diesel drivers will be getting a raw deal, and with prices at these historic highs, every penny matters to drivers.”
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