Petrol from rural supermarkets costs 10p-a-litre more than what drivers pay in bigger towns and cities, report finds

Drivers filling up their car in rural towns typically pay 10p-a-litre more for supermarket petrol than motorists in bigger towns and cities, according to a new report.

Those using rural supermarket forecourts have been paying an average of 145p-a-litre for petrol compared to 135p or less in more built-up areas, the AA claims. In some examples, the gap is as big as 15p.

AA’s latest fuel report also shows there can be significant supermarket price discrepancies in some larger towns and cities – at times by much as 6p per litre for unleaded.

This news comes despite the Competition and Markets Authority demanding fairer pump prices at the start of July and as MPs look to pile pressure on bosses to make cuts.

AA Fuel Price Report has found that supermarkets in many rural towns are charging around 145p a litre for petrol compared to bigger towns and cities where it costs 135p or less

The analysis shows that the UK average price of a litre of petrol has stagnated over the last month.

It has fallen by 0.08p from 143.47p in mid-June to just 143.39p this week.

The study also found that diesel prices have seen a marginal decrease, falling to 144.36p a litre, just short a penny lower than the 145.33p of a month ago. 

Looking solely at the ‘Big Four’ supermarkets – Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco – mid June unleaded prices averaged 141.39p-a-litre compared to 143.51p among their rivals. 

That 2.12p-a-litre difference has this week increased to 2.65p, with the super stores averaging 140.89p compared to 143.54p among their rivals. 

With diesel, the supermarkets’ price advantage over oil company sites shrunk on average from 3.18p to 2.82p a litre. 

Live petrol prices in Ashton-under-Lyne and Rochdale showcase the huge differences depending on where drivers fill up

The report comes in the wake of Energy Secretary Grant Shapps holding talks with industry leaders yesterday after a damning study by the CMA found drivers were effectively overcharged £900mIllion last year.

Mr Shapps told supermarkets and other petrol retailers they should adopt a recommendation from the CMA to publish real-time petrol pump prices in a way that drivers can search for the cheapest option.

However, the fuel price commentators – including the RAC and FairFuel UK – have argued that this will not be enough to ensure a fair deal for motorists.

Luke Bosdet, the AA’s spokesman, spoke about the decrease in pump prices. 

He said: ‘Despite the Government and Competition and Markets Authority taking the supermarkets to task for over-charging drivers for fuel, this past weekend still showed major differences in supermarket pump prices around the country. 

‘Most obvious was the extra £5 to £6 a tank paid by drivers in small rural towns with supermarkets, compared to prices in bigger towns and cities. 

‘Price gaps between communities in urban areas have shrunk but it was still possible to encounter a 6p-a-litre difference in some parts.

‘Bad habits are proving hard to shake off among the UK’s fuel retailers and that is not solely the fault of the supermarkets. 

‘This week’s head to head with the Energy Secretary and a scheme of voluntary pump price transparency in August will hopefully put a rocket under the fuel retailers but the proof will be in the pump pricing over the summer holiday period, and beyond.’

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk