Why are diesel drivers subsidising petrol buyers?

Do you drive a diesel car or van? Well, watch out – you’re probably paying over the odds for your fuel.

Garages and forecourts have been accused of hiking the price of diesel by up to 6p a litre to make up for poor margins on petrol sales.

And that means they are adding more than £3 to the cost of filling up a diesel car, or £4.80 for a van.

Cheques and balances

Edmund King, AA president, said: “Cars are like blank cheques for whoever feels the need to balance the books by plundering drivers’ pockets.

“And now the fuel retailers are taking £3-a-tank extra on diesel to steady their finances.”

Oiling the wheels

Petrol prices are also on the up, with the typical cost of a litre rising from 111.92p in mid March to 113.29p in mid April.

And all this while wholesale oil prices continue to fall!

• In the first 2 weeks of March, oil averaged $ 58.50 (£39.31) a barrel.

• In the opening fortnight of April, the cost of a barrel was just $ 55.70.

Rise and fall

So why are fuel prices going up while oil prices are falling on the international bourses?

Does it prove that retailers are cashing in on both petrol and diesel drivers?

After all, the cost of filling up a 55-litre petrol tank has shot up by 75p in the last month. And since February, petrol prices have risen 7p a litre – pumping up the cost of filling up by £3.50 a time.

Crude statistics

But it’s not that straightforward. Even though the oil price has fallen when priced in dollars, the value of sterling has itself fallen against the dollar.

That means oil costs more for UK processors and retailers.

The change in exchange rates has meant that, while £1 bought you $ 1.511 in mid March, it got you just $ 1.481 in mid April.

In, er, crude terms, that means a $ 2.80-a-barrel fall in the oil price translates into a 1p-a-litre increase at wholesale level, which inevitably feeds through to the pumps.

Pump action

So it seems no-one is faring particularly well at the pumps at the moment (although prices below £1.20 are still around 10% less than this time last year).

But even the Petrol Retailers Association confirms that diesel drivers are being used to subsidise their more numerous petrol-purchasing counterparts.

A spokesman said: “Currently, the margin available on petrol is extremely low – and so higher margins may be taken on diesel.”

Cutting remarks

The RAC, which has accused fuel retailers of taking diesel drivers for a ride, is calling for diesel prices to be cut by 4p a litre.

Simon Williams at the RAC said: “Retailers have maintained a higher margin on diesel, perhaps to subsidise petrol sales.”

But rather than calling for price cuts, the AA wants the politicians jostling for our votes to make both petrol and diesel pricing more transparent for the UK’s 35 million drivers.

“Motorists prop up the Treasury to the tune of 10% of the UK’s total £582.6 billion tax-take,” said Edmund King. “But the need for fair pricing on UK forecourts has so far been largely ignored by politicians. A commitment to pump price transparency would be a good start.”

Why are diesel drivers subsidising petrol buyers?

Why are diesel drivers subsidising petrol purchasers?

Do you drive a diesel automobile or van? Nicely, watch out – you’re almost certainly paying more than the odds for your fuel.

Garages and forecourts have been accused of hiking the price tag of diesel by up to 6p a litre to make up for poor margins on petrol sales.

And that means they are adding much more than £3 to the cost of filling up a diesel auto, or £4.80 for a van.

Cheques and balances

Edmund King, AA president, stated: “Cars are like blank cheques for whoever feels the want to balance the books by plundering drivers’ pockets.

“And now the fuel retailers are taking £3-a-tank additional on diesel to steady their finances.”

Oiling the wheels

Petrol rates are also on the up, with the common expense of a litre increasing from 111.92p in mid March to 113.29p in mid April.

And all this whilst wholesale oil prices continue to fall!

• In the initial 2 weeks of March, oil averaged $ 58.50 (£39.31) a barrel.

• In the opening fortnight of April, the expense of a barrel was just $ 55.70.

Rise and fall

So why are fuel costs going up although oil rates are falling on the international bourses?

Does it prove that retailers are cashing in on each petrol and diesel drivers?

Right after all, the cost of filling up a 55-litre petrol tank has shot up by 75p in the final month. And since February, petrol costs have risen 7p a litre – pumping up the expense of filling up by £3.50 a time.

Crude statistics

But it’s not that simple. Even though the oil value has fallen when priced in dollars, the value of sterling has itself fallen against the dollar.

That means oil fees more for UK processors and retailers.

The change in exchange rates has meant that, whilst £1 purchased you $ 1.511 in mid March, it got you just $ 1.481 in mid April.

In, er, crude terms, that signifies a $ 2.80-a-barrel fall in the oil price translates into a 1p-a-litre boost at wholesale level, which inevitably feeds by way of to the pumps.

Pump action

So it seems no-1 is faring specifically properly at the pumps at the moment (though costs beneath £1.20 are still around 10% much less than this time final year).

But even the Petrol Retailers Association confirms that diesel drivers are becoming employed to subsidise their more several petrol-purchasing counterparts.

A spokesman mentioned: “Currently, the margin offered on petrol is extremely low – and so larger margins might be taken on diesel.”

Cutting remarks

The RAC, which has accused fuel retailers of taking diesel drivers for a ride, is calling for diesel costs to be reduce by 4p a litre.

Simon Williams at the RAC stated: “Retailers have maintained a higher margin on diesel, perhaps to subsidise petrol sales.”

But rather than calling for price cuts, the AA wants the politicians jostling for our votes to make both petrol and diesel pricing far more transparent for the UK’s 35 million drivers.

“Motorists prop up the Treasury to the tune of 10% of the UK’s total £582.6 billion tax-take,” said Edmund King. “But the need for fair pricing on UK forecourts has so far been largely ignored by politicians. A commitment to pump price transparency would be a great start off.”

Why are diesel drivers subsidising petrol purchasers?

Why are diesel drivers subsidising petrol purchasers?

Do you drive a diesel vehicle or van? Well, watch out – you are possibly paying more than the odds for your fuel.

Garages and forecourts have been accused of hiking the value of diesel by up to 6p a litre to make up for poor margins on petrol sales.

And that implies they are adding much more than £3 to the expense of filling up a diesel auto, or £4.80 for a van.

Cheques and balances

Edmund King, AA president, said: “Cars are like blank cheques for whoever feels the require to balance the books by plundering drivers’ pockets.

“And now the fuel retailers are taking £3-a-tank additional on diesel to steady their finances.”

Oiling the wheels

Petrol costs are also on the up, with the typical price of a litre increasing from 111.92p in mid March to 113.29p in mid April.

And all this whilst wholesale oil costs continue to fall!

• In the 1st 2 weeks of March, oil averaged $ 58.50 (£39.31) a barrel.

• In the opening fortnight of April, the price of a barrel was just $ 55.70.

Rise and fall

So why are fuel prices going up although oil costs are falling on the international bourses?

Does it prove that retailers are cashing in on both petrol and diesel drivers?

After all, the price of filling up a 55-litre petrol tank has shot up by 75p in the final month. And given that February, petrol costs have risen 7p a litre – pumping up the cost of filling up by £3.50 a time.

Crude statistics

But it’s not that simple. Even though the oil cost has fallen when priced in dollars, the value of sterling has itself fallen against the dollar.

That signifies oil costs much more for UK processors and retailers.

The adjust in exchange rates has meant that, while £1 purchased you $ 1.511 in mid March, it got you just $ 1.481 in mid April.

In, er, crude terms, that implies a $ 2.80-a-barrel fall in the oil price translates into a 1p-a-litre enhance at wholesale level, which inevitably feeds by way of to the pumps.

Pump action

So it appears no-one is faring specifically effectively at the pumps at the moment (despite the fact that costs below £1.20 are still around 10% significantly less than this time last year).

But even the Petrol Retailers Association confirms that diesel drivers are being employed to subsidise their much more numerous petrol-purchasing counterparts.

A spokesman said: “Currently, the margin obtainable on petrol is extremely low – and so higher margins might be taken on diesel.”

Cutting remarks

The RAC, which has accused fuel retailers of taking diesel drivers for a ride, is calling for diesel costs to be cut by 4p a litre.

Simon Williams at the RAC stated: “Retailers have maintained a greater margin on diesel, maybe to subsidise petrol sales.”

But rather than calling for price tag cuts, the AA desires the politicians jostling for our votes to make both petrol and diesel pricing much more transparent for the UK’s 35 million drivers.

“Motorists prop up the Treasury to the tune of 10% of the UK’s total £582.6 billion tax-take,” stated Edmund King. “But the want for fair pricing on UK forecourts has so far been largely ignored by politicians. A commitment to pump price tag transparency would be a excellent start off.”

Why are diesel drivers subsidising petrol purchasers?

Why are diesel drivers subsidising petrol purchasers?

Do you drive a diesel automobile or van? Properly, watch out – you’re possibly paying over the odds for your fuel.

Garages and forecourts have been accused of hiking the value of diesel by up to 6p a litre to make up for poor margins on petrol sales.

And that means they are adding much more than £3 to the expense of filling up a diesel automobile, or £4.80 for a van.

Cheques and balances

Edmund King, AA president, stated: “Cars are like blank cheques for whoever feels the need to have to balance the books by plundering drivers’ pockets.

“And now the fuel retailers are taking £3-a-tank further on diesel to steady their finances.”

Oiling the wheels

Petrol costs are also on the up, with the standard expense of a litre rising from 111.92p in mid March to 113.29p in mid April.

And all this even though wholesale oil costs continue to fall!

• In the first 2 weeks of March, oil averaged $ 58.50 (£39.31) a barrel.

• In the opening fortnight of April, the cost of a barrel was just $ 55.70.

Rise and fall

So why are fuel rates going up even though oil prices are falling on the international bourses?

Does it prove that retailers are cashing in on both petrol and diesel drivers?

Right after all, the expense of filling up a 55-litre petrol tank has shot up by 75p in the last month. And given that February, petrol prices have risen 7p a litre – pumping up the cost of filling up by £3.50 a time.

Crude statistics

But it’s not that simple. Even although the oil price tag has fallen when priced in dollars, the value of sterling has itself fallen against the dollar.

That indicates oil costs a lot more for UK processors and retailers.

The adjust in exchange rates has meant that, whilst £1 purchased you $ 1.511 in mid March, it got you just $ 1.481 in mid April.

In, er, crude terms, that indicates a $ 2.80-a-barrel fall in the oil price translates into a 1p-a-litre increase at wholesale level, which inevitably feeds through to the pumps.

Pump action

So it seems no-one is faring especially nicely at the pumps at the moment (although rates under £1.20 are still around 10% significantly less than this time last year).

But even the Petrol Retailers Association confirms that diesel drivers are getting used to subsidise their far more several petrol-getting counterparts.

A spokesman stated: “Currently, the margin obtainable on petrol is very low – and so greater margins may possibly be taken on diesel.”

Cutting remarks

The RAC, which has accused fuel retailers of taking diesel drivers for a ride, is calling for diesel rates to be reduce by 4p a litre.

Simon Williams at the RAC mentioned: “Retailers have maintained a larger margin on diesel, possibly to subsidise petrol sales.”

But rather than calling for value cuts, the AA wants the politicians jostling for our votes to make each petrol and diesel pricing a lot more transparent for the UK’s 35 million drivers.

“Motorists prop up the Treasury to the tune of 10% of the UK’s total £582.6 billion tax-take,” said Edmund King. “But the want for fair pricing on UK forecourts has so far been largely ignored by politicians. A commitment to pump value transparency would be a good start off.”

Why are diesel drivers subsidising petrol purchasers?

Why are diesel drivers subsidising petrol purchasers?

Do you drive a diesel auto or van? Effectively, watch out – you are probably paying over the odds for your fuel.

Garages and forecourts have been accused of hiking the price tag of diesel by up to 6p a litre to make up for poor margins on petrol sales.

And that indicates they are adding more than £3 to the price of filling up a diesel car, or £4.80 for a van.

Cheques and balances

Edmund King, AA president, said: “Cars are like blank cheques for whoever feels the require to balance the books by plundering drivers’ pockets.

“And now the fuel retailers are taking £3-a-tank additional on diesel to steady their finances.”

Oiling the wheels

Petrol costs are also on the up, with the standard expense of a litre increasing from 111.92p in mid March to 113.29p in mid April.

And all this even though wholesale oil prices continue to fall!

• In the initial 2 weeks of March, oil averaged $ 58.50 (£39.31) a barrel.

• In the opening fortnight of April, the expense of a barrel was just $ 55.70.

Rise and fall

So why are fuel rates going up whilst oil rates are falling on the international bourses?

Does it prove that retailers are cashing in on each petrol and diesel drivers?

Following all, the expense of filling up a 55-litre petrol tank has shot up by 75p in the final month. And since February, petrol prices have risen 7p a litre – pumping up the cost of filling up by £3.50 a time.

Crude statistics

But it’s not that straightforward. Even although the oil cost has fallen when priced in dollars, the value of sterling has itself fallen against the dollar.

That indicates oil charges far more for UK processors and retailers.

The adjust in exchange prices has meant that, while £1 bought you $ 1.511 in mid March, it got you just $ 1.481 in mid April.

In, er, crude terms, that signifies a $ 2.80-a-barrel fall in the oil price translates into a 1p-a-litre boost at wholesale level, which inevitably feeds through to the pumps.

Pump action

So it seems no-one is faring particularly well at the pumps at the moment (despite the fact that costs beneath £1.20 are still about 10% less than this time last year).

But even the Petrol Retailers Association confirms that diesel drivers are becoming utilized to subsidise their more numerous petrol-acquiring counterparts.

A spokesman stated: “Currently, the margin offered on petrol is extremely low – and so higher margins may possibly be taken on diesel.”

Cutting remarks

The RAC, which has accused fuel retailers of taking diesel drivers for a ride, is calling for diesel prices to be cut by 4p a litre.

Simon Williams at the RAC said: “Retailers have maintained a greater margin on diesel, probably to subsidise petrol sales.”

But rather than calling for price cuts, the AA wants the politicians jostling for our votes to make each petrol and diesel pricing a lot more transparent for the UK’s 35 million drivers.

“Motorists prop up the Treasury to the tune of 10% of the UK’s total £582.6 billion tax-take,” said Edmund King. “But the need to have for fair pricing on UK forecourts has so far been largely ignored by politicians. A commitment to pump price tag transparency would be a great start off.”

Why are diesel drivers subsidising petrol purchasers?

Why are diesel drivers subsidising petrol purchasers?

Do you drive a diesel car or van? Effectively, watch out – you’re most likely paying over the odds for your fuel.

Garages and forecourts have been accused of hiking the price tag of diesel by up to 6p a litre to make up for poor margins on petrol sales.

And that means they are adding far more than £3 to the expense of filling up a diesel car, or £4.80 for a van.

Cheques and balances

Edmund King, AA president, stated: “Cars are like blank cheques for whoever feels the need to balance the books by plundering drivers’ pockets.

“And now the fuel retailers are taking £3-a-tank extra on diesel to steady their finances.”

Oiling the wheels

Petrol prices are also on the up, with the standard price of a litre increasing from 111.92p in mid March to 113.29p in mid April.

And all this although wholesale oil rates continue to fall!

• In the 1st 2 weeks of March, oil averaged $ 58.50 (£39.31) a barrel.

• In the opening fortnight of April, the expense of a barrel was just $ 55.70.

Rise and fall

So why are fuel prices going up while oil rates are falling on the international bourses?

Does it prove that retailers are cashing in on each petrol and diesel drivers?

Right after all, the price of filling up a 55-litre petrol tank has shot up by 75p in the last month. And since February, petrol costs have risen 7p a litre – pumping up the cost of filling up by £3.50 a time.

Crude statistics

But it is not that straightforward. Even though the oil price has fallen when priced in dollars, the worth of sterling has itself fallen against the dollar.

That means oil expenses more for UK processors and retailers.

The change in exchange prices has meant that, although £1 purchased you $ 1.511 in mid March, it got you just $ 1.481 in mid April.

In, er, crude terms, that means a $ 2.80-a-barrel fall in the oil value translates into a 1p-a-litre improve at wholesale level, which inevitably feeds by way of to the pumps.

Pump action

So it seems no-a single is faring particularly nicely at the pumps at the moment (although costs below £1.20 are nonetheless around 10% less than this time final year).

But even the Petrol Retailers Association confirms that diesel drivers are being utilised to subsidise their more quite a few petrol-getting counterparts.

A spokesman stated: “Currently, the margin obtainable on petrol is extremely low – and so larger margins may be taken on diesel.”

Cutting remarks

The RAC, which has accused fuel retailers of taking diesel drivers for a ride, is calling for diesel prices to be cut by 4p a litre.

Simon Williams at the RAC mentioned: “Retailers have maintained a higher margin on diesel, maybe to subsidise petrol sales.”

But rather than calling for cost cuts, the AA wants the politicians jostling for our votes to make both petrol and diesel pricing more transparent for the UK’s 35 million drivers.

“Motorists prop up the Treasury to the tune of 10% of the UK’s total £582.6 billion tax-take,” said Edmund King. “But the need for fair pricing on UK forecourts has so far been largely ignored by politicians. A commitment to pump price tag transparency would be a great begin.”

Why are diesel drivers subsidising petrol purchasers?

Would you use an app to pay for petrol?

Ever stumbled out of a petrol station clutching a triple CD of 1970s power ballads, a Bruce Willis film on Blue-Ray and a family bag of Revels – all accompanied with a lingering sense that you’ve squandered £25 on stuff you neither want nor need?

Why do we do that?

But the temptation to pick up overpriced treats when paying for fuel could become a thing of the past, thanks to a mobile payment initiative from Shell and PayPal.

’Appy days

Drivers can now use an app to pay for their fuel without having to leave the car while at a Shell station. You can see the benefits for anyone in a hurry, or parents with kids in the car.

Using the Shell Motorist app or the PayPal app, drivers entering the forecourt simply select the corresponding pump on the app, scan its QR code, and fill the tank. Once refuelling is complete, a receipt is sent to the phone to confirm the payment has gone through.

Initially mobile payments will only be available for Shell Driver’s Club members through either app, but wider roll-out is expected later this year.

Pump action

Rob Harper, director of mobile commerce at PayPal UK, said: “We’ve created a simple and secure way to use your mobile phone to pay at the pump nationwide. We’ve always believed people will use their mobile phones to pay if there’s a clear benefit. Now we’re offering drivers a faster way to fill up their car and pay, and get back on the road.”

Would you use an app to pay for petrol? Let us know…

Would you use an app to pay for petrol?

QUIZ: When was petrol final beneath £1 per litre?

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QUIZ: When was petrol final beneath £1 per litre?

Indexation on petrol tax: what does it mean?

There are many things that influence the cost of petrol in Australia, including our exchange rate, international benchmark prices and competition. The fluctuation of these costs are not entirely under our (or the government’s) control. There is one cost which is entirely under the control of the Federal government though: the petrol tax. And with indexation on that tax resuming, it’s a cost that is about to rise.

Why?

Currently the federal government collects fuel excise of 38.14 cents per litre – a dollar amount that has been static since 2001. The May federal budget, though, the government announced their intention to index (increase) this dollar amount twice per year. Indexation starts in November 2014.

How much?

The amount of tax per litre will increase twice each year, with the first increase raising the excise from 38.14 cents per litre to 38.6 cents per litre. That raise is estimated to cost an average family around $ 20 per year.

What’s the reaction?

A number of organisations have opposed the increase in tax, perhaps more so because of the way that it has occurred than the increase itself. The Institute of Public Affairs has called the increase  undemocratic and unnecessary.

“The government is justifying this tax increase on the basis that it would only cost the average family 40 cents per week ($ 20.80 per annum), delivering $ 2.2 billion in additional revenue,” said IPA Senior Fellow Dr Mikayla Novak. “But as the prime minister himself said before the last election, Australia’s budget problem ‘is not a revenue problem. The problem is a spending problem. Burning a bigger tax hole through the wallets of motorists is not the most effective way to address a budget emergency.”

The National Roads & Motorists’ Association (NRMA) has pointed out that reintroducing indexation will raise an alarming $ 19 billion, direct from the pockets of motorists, over the next 10 years. NRMA President Kyle Loades said a bad policy was made worse when the Australian Government decided to sneak the tax increase through the Parliament by way of a special tariff proposal.

“There’s a reason why the Petrol Tax increase didn’t pass the senate – it’s a bad policy that will hurt families who are already paying well above their fair share in tax every time they fill up,” Mr Loades said. “The NRMA does not subscribe to the Government’s argument that reintroducing indexation is necessary to ensure the tax keeps up with inflation. “

Interestingly, because the government did not get agreement from the Senate before forcing the legislation through, it may all need to be reversed again in another 12 months. We’ll just wait and see…

Indexation on petrol tax: what does it mean?

The expense of petrol…

Petrol fees us a fortune. For most of us, transport expenses are just behind housing and meals in terms of most significant living expenses. So – what influences the price of our petrol in Australia? The ACCC advises that fuel costs are influenced by a quantity of aspects, with the considerable ones being:

• Changes in international benchmark costs – the price that our overseas competitors are charging. Regional oil refineries need to stay price tag-competitive with overseas competitors.


• The worth of the Australian dollar relative to the US dollar – this affects each the cost of crude oil and imported petrol as international benchmark costs are valued according to the $ USD.  A weaker Aussie dollar leads to greater import prices.


• Levels of competitors in diverse locations – as with any industry, supply and demand will usually play a element in figuring out pricing.


• Pricing choices by wholesalers and retailers – the costs of transport, storage, salaries and other overheads that are incurred by both wholesalers and retailers also add to the cost of our fuel.

Then of course there are taxes. All fuel prices include 10% GST, and petrol and diesel also incur a fixed Federal Government Excise of 38 cents per litre. Hmmm. There is a great tiny graphic on the Australian Institute of Petroleum internet site, displaying how the price tag we pay at the bowser is divvied up among the initial supplier, the government (the aforementioned taxes), the wholesaler and the retailer. Retailers do not make a high profit margin on petrol – a purpose why several service stations nowadays resemble mini supermarkets.

Supply: www.aip.com.au   Even though it’s interesting data, it is not significantly assist if you require to fill up now! There are nonetheless a quantity of fuelwatch-variety website, such as this 1 set up by the Western Australia Department of Commerce. Google some thing similar in your state. It could save you some cash!  

The expense of petrol…

Petrol rates hit 4-year low

Supermarkets are cutting petrol prices again – Sainsbury’s and Tesco are dropping prices by as much as 5p per litre as of today, while Asda is knocking 1p off a litre of petrol and up to 2p off diesel.

And given that forecourt prices are already at their lowest levels for around 3 years (the average cost of a litre of unleaded is 129p), these fresh price cuts mean we’ll be paying less for our fuel than at any time since 2010.

Petrol price war

The main driver for the price cuts is an attempt by the UK’s major supermarkets to lure us away from discount chains such as Aldi and Lidl – petrol is one of the few effective weapons they have in this ongoing battle.

The result of the Scottish independence referendum has also played its part, however. Since the No vote, the value of the pound has risen against the dollar, meaning the wholesale price of petrol (which is priced in dollars on international markets) has dropped.

The good news for motorists is that these savings are being passed straight on via cheaper prices at the pumps.

Distance/saving equation

If you know a petrol station a few miles from where you live is offering cheaper prices than your local forecourt, it can be tempting to make a trip to fill up.

But there comes a point when the distance involved and the saving available stops it being worthwhile.

You can find out whether that applies in your case using our fuel cost calculator.

Pressure points

It’s not good news for everyone, though, as more price cuts will inevitably put more pressure on independent filling stations, which could well lead to more closures.

Figures from the Petrol Retailers Association have revealed that, over the last 5 years, almost 900 independent filling stations have disappeared from the roadside, more than a third of which are in rural areas.

For more on the plight of independent filling stations, read Kevin’s article Are we running out of petrol stations?

Cutting your fuel consumption

Seeing as we’re going to be paying less for our petrol, now is as good a time as any to increase those savings by making your fuel go further, so here ae some tried and trusted ways to cut your fuel consumption…

• Drive more considerately – Harsh accelerating and breaking leads to greater fuel consumption, so watch how you drive and pull away slowly and break gradually.

• Cut your speed – one of the simplest ways to cut your fuel consumption is to cut your speed. For instance, driving at 70mph uses 9% more fuel than driving at 60mph, and 15% more than driving at 50mph.

• Check your tyres – a drop in tyre pressure of just 0.4 bar, or 6 PSI, can increase fuel consumption by as much as 20%, so check pressures weekly and keep them topped up

• Don’t drive as much – an obvious one, but cutting out unnecessary journeys can really lead to significant savings.

• Clear out the clutter – if your car is full of clutter, you’ll increase your fuel consumption by around 1% for every extra 25kg of w7 So clear out that clutter.

• Cut the air-con – using the air con to keep cool can increase fuel consumption by as much as 25%, so you’re better off driving with the vents open and the windows down. If, however, you’re travelling at speeds of more than 60mph, wind the windows up and put the air-con on as the drag on the car at high speeds uses even more fuel.

Have you got any fuel-saving tips? Let us know in the comments or tweet us @MoneySuperMkt using the hashtag #FocusonFuel

Petrol rates hit 4-year low

Are we operating out of petrol stations?

Classic roadside petrol stations and pubs have a lot in frequent.

They both sell high-priced liquids whose price tag is inflated by the addition of whopping amounts of duty and value added tax that flows straight to the Inland Income.

They each face stiff competition from supermarkets, who undercut them on value, usually selling their product as a loss leader to get folks into the retailer.

And they are both decreasing in number at an alarming price, particularly in rural locations.

Broken Hertford

But not just rural regions. Take Hertford, county town of (you guessed it) Hertfordshire, situated just 21 miles north of Trafalgar Square. Significantly less than 10 years ago there were 2 petrol stations inside a 5-iron of the town hall. Now there are none.

And they’ve not even been replaced by supermarket forecourts. The town may possibly be ‘blessed’ with a Sainsbury and a Tesco (along with a Waitrose and M&S – we like our groceries in Hertford) but neither of them has the area nor the inclination to begin promoting fuel.

So if you reside in Hertford and want to refuel your automobile, you’ve got to head out to a mad-busy service station 3 miles away on the A10, or drive to an adjacent town such as Welwyn or Stevenage.

Woe betide you the subsequent morning if you drive property on fumes a single night.

Closing time

British pubs are closing at a shocking rate – as several as 30 a week, according to some reports.

Thankfully, this blight has yet to afflict Hertford, but that’s possibly only due to the fact most of the nearby boozers are tied to the town’s brewery, McMullen.

As for petrol stations – nationwide, independent petrol retailers are closing at the rate of 250 a year according to the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA). The difficulty is at its worst in Wales, Scotland, East Anglia and England’s West Country.

Not working at the automobile wash

The circumstance is getting exacerbated by the loss of revenue from car-wash facilities.

It appears we’re no longer willing to get tokens for a single of those (frankly, a bit scary) machines when we can pay a gang of strapping young lads down the road to do the job for us.

But it’s the supermarkets which remain the principal target of PRA’s wrath. The trade body reckons a standard supermarket fuel outlet sells 11.3 million litres of fuel a year, whereas an independent retailer sells 2.1 million litres a year.

It says: “This figure equates to each hypermarket draining the whole volume of 5 independent sites out of a regional region, resulting in a loss of jobs (an typical independent forecourt gives up to 8 portion and full time jobs), a loss of local facilities and decreased fuel resilience in the event of a crisis, such as the panic getting noticed in March 2012.”

To address the problem, the PRA wants regional and national government to limit the quantity of new supermarket forecourt openings by means of the organizing application method.

Market place forces

I should confess to a lingering affection for non-supermarket petrol outlets. I even visited a single in Norfolk not too long ago where they come out of the office and fill your car up for you.

Exact same goes with classic British pubs. Ask not for whom the bell tolls at closing time, and all that.

But probably 4 occasions out of 5 I fill up the automobile at a supermarket. And I don’t get to the pub half as often as I would like. So I’m performing little if something to arrest the deep changes taking place in these sectors.

Perhaps market place forces are irresistible, and pubs and local garages are not immovable objects. Undoubtedly looks that way.

We can only hope that when they’re all gone, the supermarkets don’t use the reduction in competitors to bump up the rates they discount at the moment.

But it would only serve us appropriate if they did.

What do you reckon? Ought to some thing be completed to save our independent petrol retailers?

Are we operating out of petrol stations?

Are we running out of petrol stations?

Standard roadside petrol stations and pubs have a lot in typical.

They both sell pricey liquids whose value is inflated by the addition of whopping amounts of duty and value added tax that flows straight to the Inland Income.

They both face stiff competitors from supermarkets, who undercut them on price tag, often promoting their product as a loss leader to get folks into the shop.

And they are each reducing in number at an alarming price, especially in rural places.

Broken Hertford

But not just rural locations. Take Hertford, county town of (you guessed it) Hertfordshire, situated just 21 miles north of Trafalgar Square. Less than 10 years ago there have been 2 petrol stations inside a 5-iron of the town hall. Now there are none.

And they’ve not even been replaced by supermarket forecourts. The town could be ‘blessed’ with a Sainsbury and a Tesco (along with a Waitrose and M&S – we like our groceries in Hertford) but neither of them has the space nor the inclination to start selling fuel.

So if you live in Hertford and want to refuel your auto, you’ve got to head out to a mad-busy service station 3 miles away on the A10, or drive to an adjacent town such as Welwyn or Stevenage.

Woe betide you the subsequent morning if you drive home on fumes 1 evening.

Closing time

British pubs are closing at a shocking rate – as several as 30 a week, according to some reports.

Thankfully, this blight has yet to afflict Hertford, but that’s probably only simply because most of the neighborhood boozers are tied to the town’s brewery, McMullen.

As for petrol stations – nationwide, independent petrol retailers are closing at the price of 250 a year according to the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA). The problem is at its worst in Wales, Scotland, East Anglia and England’s West Country.

Not working at the car wash

The circumstance is getting exacerbated by the loss of income from vehicle-wash facilities.

It appears we’re no longer willing to buy tokens for 1 of those (frankly, a bit scary) machines when we can pay a gang of strapping young lads down the road to do the job for us.

But it is the supermarkets which stay the principal target of PRA’s wrath. The trade physique reckons a common supermarket fuel outlet sells 11.3 million litres of fuel a year, whereas an independent retailer sells 2.1 million litres a year.

It says: “This figure equates to each and every hypermarket draining the complete volume of 5 independent internet sites out of a neighborhood region, resulting in a loss of jobs (an average independent forecourt gives up to 8 portion and complete time jobs), a loss of neighborhood facilities and decreased fuel resilience in the occasion of a crisis, such as the panic acquiring seen in March 2012.”

To address the dilemma, the PRA desires local and national government to limit the quantity of new supermarket forecourt openings by way of the planning application approach.

Market forces

I should confess to a lingering affection for non-supermarket petrol outlets. I even visited 1 in Norfolk recently where they come out of the workplace and fill your car up for you.

Same goes with conventional British pubs. Ask not for whom the bell tolls at closing time, and all that.

But most likely 4 instances out of 5 I fill up the car at a supermarket. And I don’t get to the pub half as often as I would like. So I’m performing little if anything to arrest the deep modifications taking place in these sectors.

Possibly market place forces are irresistible, and pubs and local garages are not immovable objects. Certainly appears that way.

We can only hope that when they’re all gone, the supermarkets do not use the reduction in competition to bump up the rates they discount at the moment.

But it would only serve us right if they did.

What do you reckon? Should some thing be accomplished to save our independent petrol retailers?

Are we running out of petrol stations?

Are we running out of petrol stations?

Conventional roadside petrol stations and pubs have a lot in typical.

They both sell pricey liquids whose price tag is inflated by the addition of whopping amounts of duty and value added tax that flows straight to the Inland Income.

They both face stiff competition from supermarkets, who undercut them on value, typically promoting their solution as a loss leader to get folks into the store.

And they are each lowering in quantity at an alarming price, especially in rural regions.

Broken Hertford

But not just rural regions. Take Hertford, county town of (you guessed it) Hertfordshire, situated just 21 miles north of Trafalgar Square. Much less than 10 years ago there had been 2 petrol stations inside a 5-iron of the town hall. Now there are none.

And they’ve not even been replaced by supermarket forecourts. The town may possibly be ‘blessed’ with a Sainsbury and a Tesco (along with a Waitrose and M&S – we like our groceries in Hertford) but neither of them has the area nor the inclination to start selling fuel.

So if you live in Hertford and want to refuel your vehicle, you have got to head out to a mad-busy service station 3 miles away on the A10, or drive to an adjacent town such as Welwyn or Stevenage.

Woe betide you the subsequent morning if you drive home on fumes 1 evening.

Closing time

British pubs are closing at a shocking rate – as a lot of as 30 a week, according to some reports.

Thankfully, this blight has but to afflict Hertford, but that is probably only because most of the regional boozers are tied to the town’s brewery, McMullen.

As for petrol stations – nationwide, independent petrol retailers are closing at the rate of 250 a year according to the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA). The dilemma is at its worst in Wales, Scotland, East Anglia and England’s West Country.

Not functioning at the auto wash

The circumstance is being exacerbated by the loss of income from car-wash facilities.

It seems we’re no longer willing to purchase tokens for 1 of these (frankly, a bit scary) machines when we can pay a gang of strapping young lads down the road to do the job for us.

But it is the supermarkets which stay the principal target of PRA’s wrath. The trade body reckons a typical supermarket fuel outlet sells 11.3 million litres of fuel a year, whereas an independent retailer sells 2.1 million litres a year.

It says: “This figure equates to every single hypermarket draining the complete volume of 5 independent web sites out of a neighborhood area, resulting in a loss of jobs (an typical independent forecourt provides up to 8 element and full time jobs), a loss of neighborhood facilities and decreased fuel resilience in the occasion of a crisis, such as the panic acquiring observed in March 2012.”

To address the issue, the PRA wants local and national government to limit the quantity of new supermarket forecourt openings by means of the arranging application approach.

Marketplace forces

I need to confess to a lingering affection for non-supermarket petrol outlets. I even visited 1 in Norfolk lately exactly where they come out of the office and fill your car up for you.

Exact same goes with traditional British pubs. Ask not for whom the bell tolls at closing time, and all that.

But almost certainly 4 times out of 5 I fill up the car at a supermarket. And I don’t get to the pub half as typically as I would like. So I’m carrying out small if anything to arrest the deep adjustments taking location in these sectors.

Maybe industry forces are irresistible, and pubs and nearby garages are not immovable objects. Undoubtedly appears that way.

We can only hope that when they’re all gone, the supermarkets don’t use the reduction in competition to bump up the costs they discount at the moment.

But it would only serve us right if they did.

What do you reckon? Should anything be completed to save our independent petrol retailers?

Are we running out of petrol stations?

Pump it up! More affordable petrol on the way

Great news for drivers – the price tag of filling up with fuel is on its way down thanks to a supermarket price war.

Asda, Sainsbury’s and Tesco have locked horns as soon as much more and cut petrol and diesel prices in a bid to win your custom – so how much can you expect to spend subsequent time you refuel?

How the petrol cost cuts measure up

Sainsbury’s and Tesco have reduce the price of both petrol and diesel by 2p per litre (to how significantly? And do we know what Morrison’s are performing – they’re in the pic) while Asda has opted for a value cap that will see clients pay no far more than 126.7p per litre of petrol and 129.7p per litre of diesel – its lowest cost given that January 2011.

So how have the supermarkets been able to reduce expenses at a time when professionals are predicting widespread oil price tag increases?

International concerns

Widespread shale oil extraction in the US has led to the market becoming less reliant on importing oil from the Middle East, offering scope for value cuts.

As a result, ongoing political troubles there and in Russia and Eastern Europe haven’t caused the supply troubles that many feared.

A stronger pound has also helped to keep wholesale costs down for UK importers, and it appears this reduction is finally being passed straight on to buyers.

It’s also the case that supermarkets occasionally use fuel as a loss leader to get folks into the retailers and acquiring groceries and other goods.

Fuel firms

As but it’s uncertain regardless of whether the principal petrol providers, such as Shell and BP, will join in the cost war – which signifies there could be a return to the fuel pump postcode lottery we saw final summer season.

But don’;t forget, driving out of your way to save a few pence per litre at the pumps can end up costing you more.

Follow the 2-for-1 rule

Last summer, MoneySuperMarket developed the ‘Focus on Fuel’ report and located virtually 4-in-every single-10 motorists took a lengthy detour on their usual route to save a penny on a litre of fuel, meaning they could be wasting about £8 per month on petrol and as considerably as £21 per month on diesel.

So if you’re looking for less costly petrol, often hold the ‘2-for-1 rule’ in mind and never travel more than 2 miles to save 1p on a litre of fuel as that is the point when going out of your way for a saving becomes a false economy.

If you want to perform out regardless of whether less costly fuel is placing you out of pocket, check out our handy Fuel Expense Calculator.

And bear in mind that paying less at the pumps is just a single way to cut operating charges. For a lot more ideas check out Jess Bown’s post, How to beat any fuel price tag hikes.

Pump it up! More affordable petrol on the way