Seven UK regions now exceeding 2012 record high petrol price

With a new record high petrol price of 142.94p set on Sunday 24 October, the RAC today reveals that the cost of unleaded in seven UK regions has now exceeded the previous high of 142.48p a litre reached on 16 April 2012.

The latest RAC Fuel Watch data† shows that Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the North East and Yorkshire and the Humber are the only places in the UK where the average cost of a litre of petrol is still below the old record price.

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said:

“With oil now at $86 a barrel and retailers taking more margin per litre than they did nine and half years ago, it surely won’t be long before every nation and region of the UK, perhaps apart from Northern Ireland, exceeds the 2012 high petrol price of 142.48p a litre.

“These high prices will be hurting households and businesses everywhere and could have a damaging effect on the economy at a time when it is recovering from the worst impact of the pandemic.

“We urge the Government to help ease the burden at the pumps by temporarily reducing VAT and for the biggest retailers to bring the amount they make on every litre of petrol back down to the level it was prior to the pandemic.”

Read next:

• Petrol and diesel prices in the UK | RAC Fuel Watch
• What is the best fuel for my car? The definitive guide to different fuel types
• How to save fuel - the ultimate guide

Originally published on the RAC Media Centre.