RAC reports record rises in petrol and diesel prices
Petrol and diesel prices in the UK rose at record levels during March, according to the latest data from the RAC.
Data from its RAC Fuel Watch revealed that a litre of unleaded rose by 20p from 132.83p at the start of the month to 152.83p.
This exceeds the 16p monthly rise recorded in June 2022.
Meanwhile, the increase in the average price of diesel was even more dramatic, going up 40p from 142.4p a litre to 182.8p. This is almost double the previous monthly record of 22p seen in March 2022.
However, average fuel prices remain below the all-time highs of summer 2022, when petrol averaged 191.5p and diesel 199p.
Unprecedented
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “March has been truly unprecedented; fuel prices have never risen this fast in a single month. But while this is the biggest pence-per-litre increase ever in a month, it’s not as great in real terms as those seen during the 1973 oil crisis when the price of a barrel quadrupled.
“While the monthly rise in a litre of petrol is bad enough, the jump in the cost of diesel is even harder to swallow at 40p a litre – 18p more than the previous monthly record.
“With long-term RAC research showing eight-in-10 people are dependent on their vehicles, these costs must really be taking their toll on both households as well as businesses.”
