Motorists Still Paying A High Price At The Pumps

THE LATEST report from the AA highlights the depressing fact that motorists continue to cough up when filling up at the pumps.

According to the motoring organisation, average petrol prices at the pumps are staying "stubbornly above" 130p a litre despite discounts in many areas. While a number of fortunate motorists have been getting petrol for around 128p a litre of late, the average price nationwide is 130.46p a litre, the AA said.

This compares with an average of 131.17p a litre in mid December 2013, while average diesel prices have fallen from 138.61p in mid December to 138.24p a litre now.

Year-on-year, UK petrol pump prices are more than 2p lower and diesel almost 2p lower than at the start of 2013. In mid January 2013, petrol averaged 132.71p and diesel 140.23.

The AA said disrupted oil supply from Libya and other market factors created enough wholesale price fluctuation to stop the UK's average petrol pump price falling below the 130p-a-litre mark for the first time since February 2011.

It added that high winds, heavy rain and flooding through December 2013 were also expected to have hit pump sales volumes and hindered chances of beating the recent low of 130.13p a litre, which was set in the second week of November.

By Press Association reporters