Hardly use any petrol now.

Diesel was 139.9 at Leigh Delamere M4 services couple of weeks ago, but noticed it was 141.9 at Scratchwood M1 London today, you'd have to be desperate.

Diesel is fairly priced around us, 119 or thereabouts, but i noticed at Morrisons Wednesbury it was around 4p cheaper than whatever the price was locally when i passed by last week, only 5 mins from the M6 jct 9, 2 mins if you avoid peak times.

Presumably the competition at Wednesbury is Costco?.

I haven't a clue if there's a Costco in the area Bromp, but i went past Morrisons Wednesbury again this morning, petrol 112.7 Diesel 114.7, that's 5.2p cheaper than Kettering for Diesel, and whopping 27.2p cheaper per litre than Scratchwood services.

<< Different petrol stations charge different prices...no more complicated than that...they charge what they think their customers will pay. >>

In my previous incarnation I remember taking part in a 'business game' intended to educate scientists in the rules of the business jungle. It took the form of managing a petrol station in competition with others in an imaginary district, so we could find out how far we could cut prices to increase volume, while still making a profit. I suppose the model still applies to most bulk commodities, but it must depend on continual snooping to keep tabs on the competition.

Fuel stations charge what they feel drivers will pay.

The opening of a new BP station not far from me has seen the prices at the Esso station about 400m away (which was the only station for about 3 miles) increase.

The BP opened just before Christmas and were charging 5p a litre more than Esso. Rather than maintain some competition Esso increased their prices and now match them.

Last Saturday petrol at both was 127.9, diesel 132.9. I paid 115.9 at Asda and 121.9 at another Esso.

With crude prices increasing expect pump pirces to increase over the next few weeks.

I used to fill up with the branded brand, and pay extra for it. Then I read the Which? online article which said that the extra price was not worth the benefits.

The last two rtimes that I filled up cost 116.9 / ltr at Tesco, Handforth and the same exactly at Morrisons, Cheadle Heath.

Cheapest I've found in North Wales, away from supermarkets, is a small independent just down the road from us, which is regularly a couple of pence per litre cheaper than its nearest rival. A lot of taxi drivers use it, which says it all.

Dearest is one just off the A55 which obviously caters mainly for expense account consumers who are not particularly bothered about finding the best price, but just want convenience. It has a McDonalds and KFC on the same small retail park so that any non-commercial motorist caught short of fuel and forced to use their facilities can drown their sorrows in barbecue sauce.

It must be at least five pence per litre dearer than anywhere else, perhaps more.

There seem to some big variations at the moment, even ignoring motorwasy and stations on busy routes such as the A1, A303 (which I happen to have travelled this morning) etc.

I have just paid 133.9 for V-Power diesel at Shell Cressex in High Wycombe. Ordinary diesel was 123.9, petrol 121.9.

The comment about Asda is probably right. Cheapest around here (but usually too far for a diversion for me) is the stations around the Dome roundabout, Watford - there's an Asda nearby.charging 119.7 for petrol, 121.7 for diesel currently according to petrolprices.com.