RAC warns of costly Christmas as fuel prices climb
Fuel prices rose sharply in November, marking the fastest monthly increase since April 2024, according to the latest data from RAC Fuel Watch.
Average unleaded petrol prices increased by 2.17p to 137.17p per litre, while diesel rose by 3.84p to 146.57p. These are the highest average prices since mid-March and late August 2024 respectively.
Supermarket forecourts also saw price rises, though they remain cheaper than the UK average. Unleaded rose 2.46p to 134.48p and diesel increased 3.6p to 143.08p per litre.
The cost of filling a typical family petrol car has risen to £75.44, up £1.19 from October, while a full diesel tank now costs £80.61 on average. Drivers using supermarkets pay slightly less, with refills costing £73.69 and £78.69 respectively.
Motorists in Northern Ireland continue to benefit from lower prices, paying an average of 129.6p for unleaded and 137.7p for diesel.
The RAC said the rise will come as a disappointment to drivers already facing higher costs during the festive period. Compared with a year ago, petrol prices are around 0.5p higher and diesel more than 4p dearer.
The increases come shortly after the Chancellor announced in the Budget that fuel duty will begin to rise from 52.95p next September, ending the 5p discount introduced in 2022.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “Drivers will be disappointed to see prices at the pumps rise so sharply in the run-up to festive period. Not only is it one of the most expensive times of the year, it’s also a time when many of us drive hundreds of miles to celebrate with family and friends over the extended break, making it a costly Christmas on the roads.
“But it’s not all gloom, as filling up in the right place could save drivers a lot of money. The best way to locate the cheapest possible petrol or diesel is to download the myRAC app and use the fuel finder feature to locate the lowest prices near you. Every penny really does count, as each 1p less per litre saves around 55p a tank for an average family-size car.”
Check live fuel prices near you before you set off.
Spotted something? Got a story? Email news (@) deeside.com
NEW: Add Deeside.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Latest News
