Category: Fuel Price Analysis

Current Prices: Petrol 131.60p/L | Diesel 141.46p/L

The Downward Run Pauses

After several weeks of falling prices, UK fuel costs have ticked up slightly. Petrol edged up just 0.1p per litre – essentially flat – while diesel rose 0.7p. It’s the first increase for diesel in over a month, though both fuels remain near their recent lows.

Year-on-Year Savings Still Strong

Despite this week’s pause, the annual picture remains positive. Petrol is 7.6p cheaper than February 2025 – that’s £3.80 saved on every 50-litre fill, or around £198 over a year of weekly top-ups. Diesel is down 5.0p year-on-year, saving £2.50 per tank or roughly £130 annually.

The Diesel Premium Widens

The gap between fuels has stretched to 9.86p per litre, up from 9.20p last week. Diesel drivers are now paying £4.93 more per 50-litre tank than petrol users. The widening spread comes as diesel wholesale costs (64.93p pre-tax) rose while petrol held steady (56.71p). Worth watching if you’re weighing up fuel types for your next vehicle.

Finding the Cheapest Fuel Near You

With the Fuel Finder Scheme now live, CheckFuelPrices is pulling prices directly from the government’s central database – updated within 30 minutes of any change at participating forecourts. Price differences of up to 20p per litre between stations mean a quick search before filling up could save you £10 on a single tank.

Looking Ahead

This week’s small uptick looks more like a blip than a trend reversal. Oil markets remain relatively stable, and with the Spring Budget approaching, all eyes are on whether the Chancellor will adjust the 52.95p duty rate.

Current Prices: Petrol 131.62p/L | Diesel 140.82p/L

Three Weeks of Falls

UK fuel prices dropped for a third consecutive week, with both petrol and diesel down 0.4p per litre. Petrol has now dipped below 132p for the first time since last spring, while diesel has slipped under 141p.

Year-on-Year Savings Accelerating

The annual comparison continues to improve. Petrol is now 7.1p cheaper than February 2025 – that’s £3.55 saved on every 50-litre fill, or roughly £185 over a year of weekly top-ups. Diesel drivers are seeing £2.65 per tank savings (5.3p per litre down), working out to around £138 annually.

The Diesel Premium

The gap between fuels has tightened slightly to 9.20p per litre, down from 9.26p last week. Diesel drivers are still paying £4.60 more per 50-litre tank than petrol users, but the spread is slowly compressing as diesel wholesale costs ease faster than petrol.

Better Data: Government Fuel Finder Scheme Now Live

From today, we’re pulling prices directly from the new Fuel Finder Scheme. All UK petrol stations are now required to report their prices to a central government database within 30 minutes of any change – and CheckFuelPrices is integrating this data alongside our existing retailer feeds.

What does this mean for you? Fresher, more accurate prices when you search. The government estimates drivers can save around £40 a year by shopping around, and with price differences of up to 20p per litre between stations, it’s worth a quick check before filling up.

Looking Ahead

With oil markets relatively calm and no immediate policy shifts on the horizon, expect this gradual downward drift to continue. The Spring Budget remains the key date to watch for any changes to the 52.95p duty rate.

Current Prices: Petrol 132.00p/L | Diesel 141.26p/L

Another Week, Another Drop

UK fuel prices continued their gentle descent this week, with both petrol and diesel falling 0.6p per litre. That’s two consecutive weeks of declines, bringing petrol below the 132.5p mark for the first time in recent months.

Year-on-Year: The Real Story

The annual comparison is where drivers are seeing genuine relief. Petrol is now 6.4p cheaper than this time last year – that translates to £3.20 saved on a 50-litre tank, or around £166 annually for weekly fill-ups. Diesel has dropped 4.3p year-on-year, saving £2.15 per tank or roughly £112 over twelve months.

The Diesel Gap Narrows Slightly

Diesel now sits 9.26p above petrol, marginally tighter than last week’s 9.18p spread. The premium remains significant though – diesel drivers are still paying £4.63 more per 50-litre fill compared to their petrol counterparts. For those weighing up their next vehicle purchase, the traditional diesel fuel economy advantage continues to erode at these price differentials.

Price Breakdown

The pump price splits roughly into thirds: base fuel cost (57.05p for petrol, 64.76p for diesel), fuel duty at 52.95p, and VAT at 20%. The duty rate remains frozen – any changes in the upcoming Spring Budget could shift the landscape considerably.

Looking Ahead

The year-long chart shows prices holding in a relatively stable band, with the downward trend from summer peaks now well established. Barring geopolitical surprises or policy shifts, expect continued modest fluctuations rather than dramatic swings.

Current Prices: Petrol 132.64p/L | Diesel 141.82p/L

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The Good News: Modest Relief at the Pumps

UK drivers saw a small reprieve this week, with both petrol and diesel dropping 0.8 pence per litre. While this won’t dramatically impact your wallet on a single fill-up (saving roughly 40-50p on a typical tank), it represents a continuation of the downward trend we’ve seen since the summer peaks.

Year-on-Year: Real Savings Are Here

The more significant story is the annual comparison. Petrol is down 4.3p per litre compared to last January – that’s a saving of £2.15 on a 50-litre tank, or around £110 per year if you fill up weekly. Diesel drivers are seeing smaller savings at 2.5p per litre, equating to £1.25 per tank or roughly £65 annually.

The Diesel Premium Problem

Diesel now costs 9.18p more per litre than petrol – the widest gap we’ve seen in recent months. For context:

• A 50-litre diesel fill costs £4.59 more than the same amount of petrol
• Traditional diesel fuel economy advantages (roughly 10-15% better MPG) are being eroded
• If you’re doing under 15,000 miles annually, petrol might now be more economical

Looking Ahead

The chart shows relative stability over the past year, with prices oscillating in a fairly narrow band. Without significant geopolitical disruptions or policy changes, expect continued stability with gradual weekly fluctuations. The government’s duty rate remains unchanged at 52.95p per litre for both fuels.