Motorists hit by ‘hellish’ petrol price rise in May

FUEL: Cost of unleaded up 6p a litre, worst rise in 18 years

The price of petrol at the pump rocketed by a “hellish” 6p a litre in May – the worst monthly rise for 18 years, the RAC has said.

Unleaded shot up from 123.43p to 129.41p a litre, putting the cost of filling up a 55-litre family car to £71.18.

The increase equalled £3.29 in just one month, RAC Fuel Watch data show.

The average price of a litre of diesel saw a slightly greater monthly increase of 6.12p, from 126.27p to 132.39p, the second worst rise since the start of 2000.

The cost of a tank of diesel for a family car became £3.37 more expensive during May, at £72.81.

The average prices of both petrol and diesel have gone up every day since April 22, the motoring group said.

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “May was hellish for motorists.

“Sadly, they have been besieged by pump price rises for three months with nearly 9p a litre being added to petrol since the beginning of March.

“The rising oil price together with a weaker pound is a punitive combination for anyone that drives regularly.

“For many people there is little alternative to the car for the majority of journeys they have to make, so it is therefore very difficult to avoid feeling the pinch of rising pump prices.”

The so-called big four supermarkets – Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons – raised petrol by 5.49p a litre and diesel by 5.88p in May.

Motorway service stations added 6.37p to unleaded, making it 144.75p a litre, and 6.69p to diesel making a litre 147.80p.

The price of oil twice passed the $80 (£60) a barrel mark during the month.

For many people there is little alternative to the car, so it is very difficult to avoid feeling the pinch

Seemingly relentless at the best of times, the price of fuel is now rocketing at what one motoring group has called a “hellish” rate. Within weeks diesel prices are likely to top 150p a litre, pushing up the price of refuelling an average family car to something near the £100 mark.

Rising oil prices are all very well – the questions is, will any drops be passed on to the consumer with similarly remarkable alacrity?