Petrol and diesel prices both down in June

Pump prices have fallen for the second consecutive month in June, with a litre of petrol reducing by 3p and diesel by nearly 4p, analysis by the RAC shows.

At the end of June, the average price of petrol across the UK was just under 145p a litre – down from 148p at the start of the month.

Diesel dropped to under 150p (150.13p) for the first time since early February, from 153.74p a litre.

This means it now costs around £80 (£79.76) to fill up a 55-litre family car with petrol and £82.57 for the diesel equivalent.  

While the cost of oil began June trading under $80 a barrel it steadily increased, finishing the month around $86.

But even though this increase has caused the wholesale price of fuel to go up slightly, the RAC argues that both petrol and diesel are still too expensive on forecourts in England, Wales and Scotland.  

Only drivers in Northern Ireland are getting a fairer deal at the pumps, according to the motoring organisation, as a litre of petrol there sells for an average of just 140.5p – 4.5p cheaper than the UK average. Diesel is 142p – 8p less than the UK-wide price.  

UK fuel prices by country

Source: RAC 

Big four supermarket fuel prices

The big four supermarkets – Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco – lowered their prices by an average of 4p for both petrol and diesel in June which meant the average cost of a litre fell to 142p for petrol and 147p for diesel.

The difference between their cheapest and most expensive sites ranges from just 6p for petrol at Tesco sites, to 10p at Morrisons, 13p at Sainsbury’s and 35p at Asda – the latter is affected by the fact the retailer now has 665 sites, many of which are non-supermarket forecourts since it acquired the 350-strong Euro Garages portfolio. 

Supermarket petrol prices

Source: RAC 

For diesel, the gap is bigger. Tesco still has the smallest difference between its high and low prices at 9p, whereas at Morrisons it’s 15p and at Sainsbury’s it’s 16p, while at Asda is a shocking 38p. 

Supermarket diesel prices

Source: RAC 

Petrol bought at the 535 sites run by oil giant Shell is the most expensive in the UK at an average of 149p – 4p more than the UK average and 8.5p more than in Northern Ireland.

BP-operated forecourts are not far behind with an average of 146.5p.

Shell also has the highest average for diesel at 155p – 5p more than the UK average and a whopping 13p more than the average in Northern Ireland. BP’s average is 152p across the 287 sites it owns and runs. 

Petrol prices across all brands

Source: RAC 

Diesel prices across all brands 

Source: RAC  

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “This month’s Fuel Watch report also reveals just how expensive fuel is when bought at forecourts owned and run by oil giants Shell and BP.

“We remain baffled how the very same fuel can be sold for such vastly different prices by the biggest retailers, whether they’re run by supermarkets or the world’s largest oil companies.  

“It’s also the case that while oil has increased from under $80 at the start of June to the mid-$80s by the end, wholesale costs are still low enough to merit cheaper prices at the pumps.

“Looking at the fairer average prices charged in Northern Ireland, petrol should be 4.5p lower across England, Scotland and Wales and diesel should be a whole 8p less.”  

He added: “We will continue to highlight this disparity, along with the massive differences between major retailers’ high and low prices, to the new government and the Competition and Markets Authority with a view to them being addressed by the new Pumpwatch scheme when it is up and running.”

Fleets fear fuel duty hike – read more here.