Fuel prices hit six-month high – but cuts are on the way
Fri, 14 Mar 2025
Petrol and diesel prices have reached a six-month high after the price of both petrol and diesel went up again in February.
However, the RAC says that better news may be in store as the wholesale cost of fuel falls.
Unleaded reached an average of 139.6p a litre in February. That’s a monthly increase of over 0.6p, taking it to the highest level since September 2024.
Diesel went up by 0.7p to 146.4p a litre, the highest since last August.
The price rises mean it now costs £3 more to fill the average petrol car, and £4 more for diesel, than it did in October 2024.
Drivers in Northern Ireland still pay the least for fuel, although the RAC is aware of an independent retailer in Shropshire selling petrol at 126.9p a litre, and diesel at 135.9p.
Filling up here would save drivers £7 compared to the national average.
"Motorists were unfortunate casualties of rising wholesale prices through January," says RAC fuel spokesperson Simon Williams. "It's not helped by global oil prices hitting the $82 a barrel mark in the middle of the month. But we hope better times are on the horizon."
With wholesale fuel costs falling throughout February, the RAC says there’s a good prospect petrol and diesel prices will come down this month as retailers buy fresh stock at lower prices.
The RAC predicts prices should come down by at least 6p a litre for petrol and 3p a litre for diesel.
It expects retailers to start to cut prices this week.
As always, it pays to shop around – with prices at some supermarket sites varying by as much as 13p a litre.
If I put my number plate on retention do I have to remove it from my car immediately?
