The cost of filling up an average family car with petrol has risen above £100 ($125) for the first time, as fuel prices keep rising in the UK.
According to data firm Experian Catalist, the average price of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts reached a record 182.3p ($2.29) on June 8, an increase of 1.6p from a day before. This means the average cost of filling a typical 55-litre family car is £100.27.
The average price of a litre of diesel on Wednesday was a record 188.1p.
Motoring group RAC called it “a truly dark day” for drivers.
RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said, “While fuel prices have been setting new records on a daily basis, households up and down the country may never have expected to see the cost of filling an average-sized family car reach three figures.”
He said the high fuel prices will “almost certainly” cause upward inflationary pressure, which is “bad news for everybody.”
Williams called on the government to alleviate the pressure on households by cutting taxes.
“March’s 5p fuel duty cut now looks paltry as wholesale petrol costs have already increased by five times that amount since the Spring Statement,” he said.
“A further duty cut or a temporary reduction in VAT would go a long way towards helping drivers, especially those on lower incomes who have no choice other than to drive.”
Rival motoring group AA said the more than 8p-a-litre leap in average petrol costs over a week has been “a huge shock.”
The group called for a further 10p per litre cut in fuel duty and the introduction of a “fuel price stabiliser,” which would mean fuel duty is lowered when prices go up and increased when prices drop.
AA President Edmund King said: “Enough is enough. The government must act urgently to reduce the record fuel prices which are crippling the lives of those on lower incomes, rural areas, and businesses.
“A fuel price stabiliser is a fair means for the Treasury to help regulate the pump price, but alongside this they need to bring in more fuel price transparency to stop the daily rip-offs at the pumps.
“The £100 tank is not sustainable with the general cost-of-living crisis, so the underlying issues need to be addressed urgently.”
In response, the official spokesman of Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “Transparency may have an important role to play. It is important the public understand what actions each of the fuel retailers are taking and so we are considering what further options we can take in this area.”
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