February fuel rise pushes pump prices to six-month high

The average price of petrol in the UK has reached its highest level since September, marking five consecutive months of increases, according to RAC Fuel Watch.

In February, the cost of a litre of unleaded rose by 0.65p to 139.65p, while diesel prices climbed by 0.73p to 146.48p. The last time petrol was this expensive was on 6 September 2024, when it hit 139.81p per litre.

Diesel prices were last at this level on 29 August 2024, when they reached 146.55p.

For motorists, this means a full tank of petrol now costs £76.81, an increase of nearly £3 since October when prices stood at 134.33p per litre.

Diesel drivers are seeing even higher costs, with an average fill-up now at £80.56, up more than £4 from early October, when it was £76.45.

Supermarkets remain the cheapest option, offering petrol at an average of 137.36p per litre—2.3p less than the UK average.

Diesel is similarly priced at 143.91p per litre, 2.6p below the national average. Some locations offer even greater savings, with supermarket sites near Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-upon-Tyne selling unleaded for as little as 127.7p per litre.

Independent forecourts in some areas are also undercutting major retailers.

In Shropshire, one station was selling petrol for 126.9p per litre and diesel for 135.9p.

Drivers who can access these lower-cost stations could save up to £7 on a full tank compared to the national average.

Once again, Northern Ireland recorded the lowest fuel prices in the UK, with petrol averaging 132.9p per litre—nearly 7p cheaper than the mainland—while diesel stood at 138.9p, more than 6p lower.

The rise in pump prices has been attributed to higher wholesale costs, driven by an increase in global oil prices, which peaked at $82 per barrel in mid-January.

Demand rose across the northern hemisphere due to cold weather, while uncertainty surrounding the transition of the US presidency also contributed to price fluctuations.

However, wholesale fuel prices have been declining in recent weeks, suggesting that motorists may soon see relief at the pumps.

RAC fuel spokesperson Simon Williams said: “It’s disappointing to see pump prices up yet again in February, with drivers now facing some of the highest costs at forecourts since the end of last summer. Motorists were the unfortunate casualties of rising wholesale prices through January, not helped by global oil prices hitting the $82-a-barrel mark in the middle of the month.

“But we hope better times are on the horizon. With wholesale fuel costs falling throughout February, there’s a good prospect petrol and diesel prices will come down this month as retailers buy fresh stock at lower prices. As always, it really does pay to shop around because pump prices at supermarket sites vary by as much as 13p a litre.”