North-south divide on petrol prices
Filed under: News
Travellers motoring to tourist hot spots in the summer holidays are set to suffer from a continuing north-south divide on petrol prices, the AA has warned.Average petrol prices in southern Britain are almost 2p a litre higher than in northern Britain, compared with a difference of just over 1p a litre last summer, according to an AA fuel price report.
This will particularly hit those needing to fill up in the West Country - one of the top holiday locations, the AA said.
It added that pump prices are now nearly 14.5p a litre higher than the start of last year's summer holiday season.
Petrol prices this year have fallen from an average of 118.08p a litre in mid-June to 117.46p now, while diesel has gone down from 120.52p a litre to 119.73p.
The most expensive petrol at present is to be found in London where prices average 118.7p a litre. The cheapest, at 116.2p a litre, is in north west England and in Yorkshire and Humberside.
The dearest diesel is currently in Northern Ireland (121.1p a litre) and the least-expensive is in Yorkshire and Humberside (118.8p).
AA president Edmund King said: "Summer is the time when lack of fuel-price competition in the most populous part of the UK and sustained increases in fuel duty bear down hardest on businesses that rely on customers to drive to them, such as in the tourism industry. Petrol retailers and the Treasury need to remember that.
"The average price of petrol and diesel may have fallen 3p-4p from the highs of mid-May but fuel is still 14% more expensive than this time last year and that will hurt holidaymakers and their hosts alike."
It added that pump prices are now nearly 14.5p a litre higher than the start of last year's summer holiday season.
Petrol prices this year have fallen from an average of 118.08p a litre in mid-June to 117.46p now, while diesel has gone down from 120.52p a litre to 119.73p.
The most expensive petrol at present is to be found in London where prices average 118.7p a litre. The cheapest, at 116.2p a litre, is in north west England and in Yorkshire and Humberside.
The dearest diesel is currently in Northern Ireland (121.1p a litre) and the least-expensive is in Yorkshire and Humberside (118.8p).
AA president Edmund King said: "Summer is the time when lack of fuel-price competition in the most populous part of the UK and sustained increases in fuel duty bear down hardest on businesses that rely on customers to drive to them, such as in the tourism industry. Petrol retailers and the Treasury need to remember that.
"The average price of petrol and diesel may have fallen 3p-4p from the highs of mid-May but fuel is still 14% more expensive than this time last year and that will hurt holidaymakers and their hosts alike."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
7-16-2010 @ 7:32AM
Angelina said...
There are many other facts that influence PETROL PRICES and the media does not report to the masses the connection. Why don't you go to www.endpiracynow.org and find out for yourself.
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7-16-2010 @ 7:38AM
Bob said...
112.9 at ASDA Shoeburyness Essex
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7-16-2010 @ 7:41AM
Lisa said...
Its 119.9 in Derbyshire and in Lincolnshire its 128.9 both for diesel so I think its still expensive.
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7-16-2010 @ 7:43AM
Beth said...
130 per ltr here in the north of Scotland - it says above, that the south is the most expensive in Britain - or has Scotland been cut off !!!
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7-16-2010 @ 10:43AM
Glen said...
I the south west 114 for unleaded--
7-16-2010 @ 1:07PM
scaranda said...
Of course it has, Beth. As a rural living Scot myself, I'm wondering why we should feel sorry for those going south on holiday when most of us can't afford to at all with the ruddy price of fuel.
7-16-2010 @ 1:07PM
Les said...
Beth - scotland has not been part of britain for a long time now, when the media talk about the north of Britain they actually mean Newcastle and area. I got diesel today for 124.9p pl and I'm as north as you can get on the Scottish mainland but I understand that further west and in the islands it is hitting over £1.30 pl. So once again the media have it wrong!! surprise surprise
7-16-2010 @ 1:46PM
fred platt said...
123.9 in shipston on stour for unleaded
7-16-2010 @ 2:31PM
MILES said...
I'm living next to a station, here on the north coast with a cost of £1.31.99 ltre of unleaded. Again, an unreal comparison; it appears because south has a higher population!
7-16-2010 @ 3:33PM
peter said...
i live in swadlincote derbyshire were petrol is 112.3 p
at most of the filling stations
130p seems tobe way out
7-16-2010 @ 7:44AM
A STEELE said...
petrol prices in the south are not as exspensive as those on Anglesey, i have driven down south and also up north and i have not found petrol prices as high as they are here on anglesey, i have questioned some of the petrol stations for an answer why but no one is willing to provide a reasonable answer.
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7-16-2010 @ 7:59AM
Graham said...
112.9 at Sainsbury's Farlington, Portsmouth. Where do they get these rubbish statistics? Yes, once again it's lies, damn lies and statistics!!!
Graham.
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7-16-2010 @ 7:45AM
t mead said...
IN MID SUSSEX WE ARE PAYING 119.9 PER LITRE BUT IN BRIGHTON 14 MILES AWAY AND EASTBOUNE 25 MILES AWAY IT IS APPROX 112.4 PER LTR THATS APPROX 30p PER GALLON SHEER PROFIT FOR SOMEONE !!!!!
THE TANKERS MUST GO THOUGH MID SUSSEX TO GET TO THE COAST SO I WISH THAT SOME PERSON COULD EXPLAIN WHY WE HAVE TOO PAY MORE
ONE REASON THAT WE GET IS THAT BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE LIVE IN MID SUSSEX BUT WORK IN LONDON THEY GET PAID LONDON RATES SO THEY CAN AFFORD TO PAY MORE
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7-16-2010 @ 12:05PM
Paul said...
Learn to spell and STOP SHOUTING
7-16-2010 @ 8:17AM
kenny work said...
dont know where they get this petrol prices cheaper up north nonsence from am paying £1.29.9 for petrol in orkney
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7-16-2010 @ 8:22AM
stu said...
most of you in the south arnt going to like what im going to say on this little note.
The cost of living is higher in the south so you get paid more it may not be much more but it is more in the longrun than what we get in the North so it is only fair that gas prices in the south are slightly more expensive.
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7-16-2010 @ 12:07PM
Julie Rothwell said...
Actually Stu, wages are on the whole much lower than people think! Most employment down here is now seasonal, tourism based so at the end of the summer many are layed off until the following year when hotels & b&b's open up again along with theme parks etc.
7-16-2010 @ 8:29AM
E Walmsley said...
I go north to Blackburn once a month to see my mum-in-law. A round trip of some 500 miles. I fill the car up in Blackburn and on average the petrol is 5 pence a LITRE cheaper in Blackburn than in Bracknell, Berkshire (22p a gallon !!!!)
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7-16-2010 @ 4:25PM
david rayson said...
£1.18 here at durham North East UK.
Why does petril cost so much here when you can travell anywhere in the world and pay almost half our prices, its madness.
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7-16-2010 @ 8:56AM
rwpoynter said...
Will someone tell me why Diesel is usually 2p a litre more expensive when it is cheaper to make?
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