Prices at the pumps soar to highest in over two years

PETROL and diesel prices soared to their highest level in two years, last month, reaching a high of almost 142 cent.

According to AA Ireland’s monthly fuel prices survey, a litre of petrol cost an average of 138.3 cent in December, while diesel car owners spent 127.1 cent a litre.

However, there was a gross disparity between the cheapest and dearest prices yesterday.

An Esso filling station in Kells, Co. Meath, charged the most for petrol, 141.9 cent per litre, according to the website www.pumps.ie.

EK Fuels, on the Armagh Road, Dundalk, Co. Louth offered just 129.8 cent per litre.

And another EK Fuel station in Dundalk, on the Carrickmacross Road, had the cheapest diesel in the country, at 116.8 cent a litre yesterday.

Petrol is now at its most expensive since August 2015. The rising cost of a barrel of oil is a cause of concern, according to Conor Faughnan, AA director of consumer affairs.

‘Since August of 2017, we have seen continued, incremental monthly increases in the cost of both fuel and diesel, meaning more and more motorists are now feeling the pinch when it comes to covering their commute to work,’ he said.

Mr Faughnan said the rise in prices is not likely to change in the short term. AA is predicting a move away from petrol and diesel to electric cars and other renewables, but said that is of little comfort to most motorists in the coming months.

‘While the future of motoring will be less reliant on fossil fuels, in the meantime people still need to be able to afford the cost of their commute,’ he said. ‘There are alternatives, such as public transport or cycling, but these aren’t feasible for everyone.’

He added that the Government must recognise that the tax on petrol and diesel is excessive.

According to the AA, an average motorist who drives 19,000km a year will pay an average of €207.45 per month for petrol, of which €129.95 is tax.

A motorist driving a diesel-powered vehicle will, on average, spend €190.65 per month on fuel, of which €112.41 is tax, it said.

Staying competitive with North’s prices

A sudden ‘flash sale’ by Applegreen, which has dropped its prices by four cent until tomorrow, has led to a price battle between the major stations.

A manager at EK’s Armagh Road station told the Irish Daily Mail the station, in a border county, had to stay competitive with the North’s prices and tried to be the best on offer.