Campaign group Fair Fuel UK is calling for complicated UK petrol and diesel prices to be clearly explained to drivers, or officially investigated.

Pricing analysis over the last six months shows that oil has fallen by over 16% yet the price of unleaded petrol has risen by over 9%. In the same period some petrol retailer profit margins have climbed to nearly 15% on unleaded and over 21% on diesel.

Quentin Willson, campaigner for Fair Fuel UK, said "Fuel pricing in the UK would confuse even Stephen Hawking. How can oil prices fall yet petrol prices go up? It doesn’t make any sense at all. Why won’t the fuel industry clearly explain these confusing discrepancies? 40 million drivers have a right to know."

Recent falls in diesel at the pumps are due to increased supply and lower refining prices from Saudi Arabia that’s has caused the wholesale cost to fall by nearly 5%, yet some retailers have actually increased their diesel pump prices.

Howard Cox, founder of Fair Fuel UK, continued: "Figures from the last six months show that forecourts just aren’t reflecting oil price falls and now it looks like they’re keeping the price of unleaded artificially high to increase margins. 99% of Fair Fuel UK’s 1.1 million supporters want an enquiry into the dark and secret world of fuel prices. We’ve repeatedly asked the industry for an explanation but are still waiting."
 
While currency fluctuations, a strong American dollar, refining and distribution costs can influence forecourt pricing the group is adamant that the lower price of oil caused by historic levels of global oversupply isn’t being transparently passed on to UK consumers.

Over 80 MPs have also joined Fair Fuel UK’s calls for pricing transparency and an official government enquiry.

Willson added: "The longer the fuel industry keeps this information a mystery – the worse it looks for them. No wonder consumers are getting so angry and frustrated."

 

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