DRIVERS are facing the highest festive fuel prices on record as they are “heartlessly overcharged” by supermarkets.
They will pay 153p a litre for petrol and 176p for diesel — respectively 7p and 27p more than last year, the RAC says.
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Yet the wholesale price of petrol is the same as it was last Christmas while diesel is only 14p more.
The RAC’s Simon Williams said: “Drivers are being heartlessly overcharged.
“The big four supermarkets have robustly refused to significantly lower their forecourt prices to reflect what’s happened.”
Meanwhile, a FairFuelUK report shows a 12p a litre rise outlined in Budget documents last month would mean van drivers paying £1,000 a year more and HGV drivers an extra £7,000.
It would also add 2.3 per cent to inflation, the dossier says.
Tory MP Andrea Leadsom MP says: “At a time when families are struggling with the rising cost of living, any rise in fuel duty would be a devastating hit for people trying to get to work, school or just for the weekly shop.
“I hope the government will also look seriously at FairFuelUK’s proposal for a Pump Watch Commissioner to make sure customers are paying a fair price at the pump, and that the Chancellor will continue the welcome fuel duty freezes of the last decade.”
Average fuel prices reached record highs of 192p per litre for petrol and 199p per litre for diesel in July, partly due to Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine.
