Petrol companies ‘keeping prices high despite falling wholesale costs’, warns RAC
3 August 2022, 00:55
Petrol companies have been accused of keeping prices high despite falling wholesale costs.
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The RAC said the wholesale cost of unleaded - the price when it arrives at forecourts - is now back down to its early May price of 131.75p per litre, which saw average pump prices of around 167p per litre.
However, the roadside recovery firm warned drivers are currently paying an average of 183p per litre at pumps across the UK.
It accused the major retailers of being "unwilling" to cut their prices in what has been a "tough month" for drivers.
RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: "July has been an unnecessarily tough month for drivers due to the big four supermarkets' unwillingness to cut their prices to a more a reasonable level, reflecting the consistent and significant reductions in the wholesale cost of petrol and diesel.
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"As it was, we saw independent retailers leading the charge with fairer pump prices appearing all around the country which eventually forced the supermarkets to finally implement a more substantial cut late last Friday afternoon.
"What ought to have happened is that the biggest retailers cut their prices more significantly on a daily basis, given the wholesale price of petrol has fallen steadily over the last eight weeks."
It comes after fuel prices hit their highest-ever levels earlier this summer as the UK's cost-of-living crisis began to bite.
The wholesale cost of petrol has fallen by 20p since early June, according to the RAC.
Yet UK retailers continued to increase their prices in June and only dropped their pump prices by an average of 9p during July, the firm said.
This means drivers filling up at the end of July average of 183p per litre could be paying almost £9 a tank more than they should be.
'They're forcing us off the roads'
The "big four" supermarkets - Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury's, along with several other suppliers - have been facing criticism for failing to reduce their prices in line with falling wholesale costs.
Mr Williams said motorists should "shop around as it's highly likely you'll find an independent retailer which is doing the right thing and fairly reflecting their lower wholesale costs by charging a lower price".
He added: "This is really encouraging because the independents buy new stock less frequently than the supermarkets as they don't sell as much, and consequently aren't as well positioned as their rivals to be able to snap up fuel at lower prices when there are sudden market drops."
A spokesperson for Sainsbury's said: "We are committed to offering motorists great value and over the weekend we lowered the price of petrol and diesel across our forecourts. We price locally and competitively."
Tesco, Asda and Morrisons has been approached by PA for comment.
