Consumer Price Index drives calls for fuel rebate
Fleet are being encouraged to back calls for a fuel rebate of 15p per litre after the Consumer Price Index rose to 3.5% in September.
This is up from 3.1% in August, with soaring fuel costs a key factor in driving up the cost of living.
The Road Haulage Association has now restated its call for an essential user rebate of at least 15p per litre.
Richard Smith, RHA managing director, said: “We have long argued that sustained fuel price increases would have a knock-on effect on the wider economy with haulage, coach and van operators struggling to absorb the shocks and having to pass them on.
“Squeezed cashflow is putting more businesses and jobs at risk with little prospect of geopolitical volatility stabilising any time soon.
“This is why the government must intervene now, and next week’s Budget is the time to do it. We believe that an essential user rebate of at least 15 pence per litre should be put in place for six months to relieve some of those pressures – and we remind ministers that other countries have launched similar measures.
“We also urge the Chancellor to scrap the fuel duty rises set for the new year and shelve plans to link duty to the Retail Prices Index from April.”
