At last, good news for drivers! Prices at pump plummet
Diesel falls at record rate and petrol down too
DIESEL prices plummeted at their fastest ever rate in Scotland last month in a muchneeded boost for motorists.
The cost fell by a record 11.45p in May, saving around £6.18 per tank for a typical 55litre car.
The average price of diesel was 145.13p at the end of the month, according to figures from the RAC.
Petrol prices also fell, though less dramatically by 2.62p per litre, to an average of 143.12p.
The reduction in diesel prices comes after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced a probe amid concerns over unneces
‘A reduction not seen in 23 years’
sarily high charges. Experts say wholesale diesel prices have fallen since April due to seasonal patterns and the lessening impact of the war in Ukraine.
Across the UK, diesel plunged by 12p in May to 146.99p per litre. However, motoring groups warned that forecourts are still failing to pass on additional savings of 8p to 10p per litre.
RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: ‘A 12p reduction in the price of diesel in one month is something we haven’t seen in nearly 23 years of monitoring prices.’
But prices in Scotland are still 6.64p higher than in Northern Ireland, where the Consumer Council publishes cheapest and average fuel prices in every town. Mr Williams said: ‘We’re sure retailers in Northern Ireland are still making money – they’ve just done the right thing for their customers by moving prices down as wholesale costs have fallen.
‘The fact supermarkets have less of a stranglehold on fuel retailing there may have something to do with it.’
AA fuel price spokesman Luke Bosdet added: ‘There is nothing stopping Scotland replicating the NI Fuel Price Checker. I suspect, though, that the government in Scotland is more interested in trying to relieve drivers of their cash, through workplace parking levies and city penalty charges, than helping them in a cost of living crisis.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Tools to help consumers find the cheapest fuel prices are readily available online. We expect petrol stations to charge all consumers a fair price and advertise these in a transparent and easily understood way.
‘The Scottish Government has raised inconsistent pricing between urban and rural areas with the CMA as a key issue for the investigation they are conducting.’