Families driving diesel cars are now facing charges of more than £100 to fill up, according to the latest figures from the RAC. The average price of a litre of diesel has jumped by 17p to 181.5p, up from a low of 164.5p on July 9. This means a typical family car with a 55-litre tank now costs over £100 to fill, the highest level since early June. For petrol vehicles, a full tank now costs £89, the most since February.
Why are prices rising?
The increases are attributed to the ongoing conflict between the US and Iran. Renewed fighting in recent weeks, including fresh confrontations over the vital shipping route the Strait of Hormuz, has pushed up the wholesale cost of oil again.
Fuel theft on the rise
At the same time, reports of fuel thefts at forecourts have increased. Michelle Henchoz, managing director of Forecourt Eye, said: “As offending becomes more organised and more sophisticated, operators need joined-up technology that helps them protect both their forecourt and their convenience store.” Gordon Balmer, executive director of the Petrol Retailers Association, which represents independent forecourts, said its members are “reporting increasing levels of abuse and aggression towards colleagues who are simply doing their jobs and have no influence over the price displayed on the forecourt”. He added: “Bringing together technologies that help retailers prevent crime, manage incidents and support police investigations is a positive step for the industry.”
Impact on independent retailers
Ben Lawrence, a director at Lawrences Garages, which owns five petrol stations in Norfolk and Hampshire, said fuel thefts were historically often carried out by people involved in other crimes, but rises in the cost of living mean this is no longer the case. He told the Press Association there is a “misconception” that all forecourts featuring branding from energy giants such as BP and Shell are operated by those companies, rather than smaller businesses, so some drivers believe it “doesn’t matter” when they fail to pay. “It does matter to us,” he said. “When someone drives off (after taking fuel worth) £80-£90, it’s hitting us, not the oil companies. We’ve already purchased it.”
