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Latest UK Petrol Prices
What determines the price of petrol?
The cost of petrol and diesel at the pump isn’t set at random - it’s influenced by a mix of global and local factors.
When oil prices go up, and the pound weakens and UK motorists are likely feel the pinch.
Latest Petrol and Diesel Prices
Average prices are accurate as of —.
Average Cost of Petrol & Diesel, UK
In the below graph, you can see the average cost of petrol and the average price of diesel over a 52 week period in the UK.
It is an interesting view on how the cost of fuel will fluctuate across the year. All data is sourced from official government statistics.
UK Fuel Prices Table
| Date | Petrol (ppl) | Diesel (ppl) | Difference | Weekly Change (Petrol) | Weekly Change (Diesel) |
|---|
Price data is sourced from official data on the gov.uk website
Fuel Pricing Factors
Central to most of this is that retailers pay a wholesale price. This in turn fluctuates based on:
- Crude Oil Prices. The foundation of fuel costs, which is dictated by global supply and demand. Output and capacity also plays a role in the price.
- Exchange Rates. Refined fuel is traded in US dollars per metric tonne. As such the strength of the pound against the dollar impacts the cost to UK motorists.
- Distribution & Retail Margins. Logistics costs and retailer profit margins also play a key role.
- Government Taxation. Taxes such as fuel duty, a fixed charge per litre, and VAT, are applied to the cost of the person at the fuel pump.
While some factors, like VAT and fuel duty, remain relatively stable, others – think crude oil prices and currency exchange rates - can prove to be the most unpredictable.
All of this is why fuel prices constantly rise and fall.
What is Fuel Duty?
Fuel duty is an indirect tax levied by the UK government on road fuels and some other fuels. It is included directly in the cost of fuel at the pumps.
Every litre of petrol and diesel includes fuel duty. For a long time, this was fixed at 57.95p per litre.
However, since 2022, the government reduced it to 52.95p per litre. This cut was later confirmed to stay in place from Spring 2025 - following the UK Government Budget on 30 October 2024.
Fuel Duty is still currently at this level. This rate includes a temporary 5p reduction, extended until March 2026.