The average price of diesel could reach a record high this weekend, with the cost of a 55-litre fill-up for a family car now at £109. Standard diesel climbed to an average of 198.32p per litre on Friday, less than a penny short of the all-time record of 199.22p set in June 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Latest figures show that diesel already costs over £2 a litre at more than 1,700 garages in the UK, with some motorway service stations charging 219.9p per litre. Prices are expected to continue climbing over the weekend.
Most expensive diesel in Europe
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said the UK now has the most expensive diesel in Europe, 12p a litre ahead of Finland and the Netherlands. He said: "The record of 199.09p will almost certainly be surpassed over the weekend as retailers continue to pass on the increases they're seeing when they buy new supply."
Petrol is now averaging 173.6p per litre, its highest price in more than four years. Petrol has risen nearly 12p in September and more than 40p since the Iran War began. Diesel is up 14.5p this month alone and 55p since 28 February.
Oil prices and pump prices
Williams said: "Sadly for drivers, there appears to be no end in sight to high prices at the pumps as the cost of a barrel of oil hit $106 having been around that $100 mark for the last two weeks."
The price of diesel has risen by 20 per cent since the middle of July as the pressure on global oil markets caused by the Iran war caused a second spike in UK prices. The average price of standard unleaded petrol is now at 173.6p per litre, and while this has also risen sharply in recent weeks, it has not reached the same record levels as diesel. Following the invasion of Ukraine, the price of unleaded peaked in July 2022 at 191.5p per litre.
Highest prices at motorway services
The price of standard unleaded is also rising, and could break through the £2 barrier at some motorway service stations with several now charging 199.9p per litre.
According to the latest Fuel Finder data published by the government and based on figures supplied by retailers, the highest price being charged for diesel around the country today is 219.9p per litre. That price is being advertised at 46 motorway service station garages operated by BP, including locations such as Hilton Park South on the M6, Ferrybridge on the M62, and Leigh Delamere West on the M4.
