Fuel Prices Hold Steady in August After Summer Surge
UK drivers finally got a break at the pumps in August, with unleaded petrol prices dipping slightly by 0.27p to 135.02p per litre. Diesel stayed rock steady, barely budging from 136.66p to 136.65p. But don’t pop the champagne just yet – these tiny drops follow a summer of relentless price hikes, with petrol up nearly 20p per litre compared to last year.
August’s Tiny Price Drop Follows July’s Record Surge
July was brutal, marking the biggest monthly rise in unleaded petrol prices since January. Drivers faced the priciest petrol fills in eight years. Now, filling a 55-litre petrol tank costs £74.26 – a mere 15p cheaper than at the start of August. Diesel is a touch pricier at £75.16 per fill.
Supermarkets Offer Best Value as E10 Petrol Rolls Out
Fuel bargains? Major supermarkets lead the pack, with unleaded now averaging 132.09p per litre and diesel at 133.91p, both down by around 0.4p in August. A fresh twist this month is the rollout of E10 petrol across Great Britain forecourts, with Northern Ireland set to follow next year.
RAC Warns: Fuel Prices Could Rise Again
RAC spokesman Rod Dennis warns that the pause in price rises won’t last. “Although a nine-month streak of continuous rises halted in August, drivers have still paid far more this summer than last,” he said.
“Key to what happens next is how the oil price changes. OPEC+ has chosen to increase output only slightly, which, combined with upbeat economic news, could push pump prices back up.”
Oil prices flirting near $80 a barrel – as seen in July – could trigger another wave of petrol and diesel price hikes. Dennis added, “This second ‘staycation’ summer has been painfully expensive compared to 2020, especially with many travelling longer distances and paying around 20p more per litre.”
