Rising fuel prices in July… and more could be on the way

2nd Aug 2019

Petrol up by 1.55p and diesel by nearly 1p – 3% fall in the value of pound could hurt drivers if oil goes up.

After a month of falling fuel prices in June, July saw both petrol and diesel rise once again as the pound lost 3% on the dollar, data from RAC Fuel Watch* reveals.

Luckily though, pump prices are still cheaper than they were at the start of June as only 1.55p went on to the average price of unleaded during the month taking a litre to 129.21p (in June petrol fell 3p a litre to 127.62p).

Diesel was slightly less affected, going up by a penny (0.93p) to 131.95p (in June diesel reduced by 4.6p to 130.90p).

This means a tank of petrol now sets drivers back £71.07 compared to £70.21 at the end of June. For diesel the difference is just 51p with a complete fill-up increasing to £72.57.

At the four big supermarkets the fuel price rise was steeper with 1.88p being added to petrol, taking their average price to 125.95p. Diesel went up 1.64p, making a litre cost 128.62p.

Wholesale prices rose as a result of oil enduring a mid-month boost, hitting a high of $67.41 on 10 July but falling away to $63.97 by the close.

The other oil price-defining factor – the strength of sterling – took a dip following the change of Prime Minister, with the pound dropping 3% from $1.26 at the start of July to $1.22 by the close.

In fact, the pound reached its lowest level against the dollar ($1.2152 on 30 July) since March 2017 ($1.2151 on 9 March 2017).

Motorists will undoubtedly feel the pinch at the pumps if the pound remains this weak and oil were to rise to around $70 a barrel.

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “Sadly, July saw a return to rising pump prices making the respite of June all too brief.

"While there were only relatively small rises in both petrol and diesel, the situation might have been far worse if the drop in the value of the pound had combined with the higher mid-month oil prices.

And, of course this could still very easily prove to be the case if the pound doesn’t recover in the next few weeks.

“The price of a barrel of oil has been fluctuating between $60 and $70 since the end of May as traders can’t seem to be able to get a clear understanding of what’s happening with global demand.

"On the one hand there is talk of an economic slowdown in China and, on the other, concerns about supply due to the tanker hijacking issues in the Strait of Hormuz through which a third of the world’s sea-borne oil supply is shipped.

“Drivers can only hope we don’t see the nasty combination of a rising oil price and a falling pound.

If we do, August could prove to be a very costly month on the UK’s roads.

This could easily lead to petrol going above the 2019 high of 130.67p seen at the start of June and diesel exceeding the year’s high point of 135.54p at the end of May.”

Motorists can keep abreast of the latest fuel prices by visiting the RAC Fuel Watch webpage.

* UK average fuel prices quoted in the RAC Fuel Watch July 2019 report are based on Experian Catalist data from 1 to 31 July 2019 (pump prices).

Regional prices are based on Experian Catalist data from 1 to 31 July. Wholesale prices, oil price and the value of sterling are based on data from 1 to 31 July 2019.