July sees return to rising pump prices … and more could be on the way

After a month of falling fuel prices in June, July saw both petrol and diesel rise once again as the pound lost 3% on the dollar, data from RAC Fuel Watch* reveals.

Luckily though, pump prices are still cheaper than they were at the start of June as only 1.55p went on to the average price of unleaded during the month taking a litre to 129.21p (in June petrol fell 3p a litre to 127.62p). Diesel was slightly less affected, going up by a penny (0.93p) to 131.95p (in June diesel reduced by 4.6p to 130.90p).

This means a tank of petrol now sets drivers back £71.07 compared to £70.21 at the end of June. For diesel the difference is just 51p with a complete fill-up increasing to £72.57.

At the four big supermarkets the fuel price rise was steeper with 1.88p being added to petrol, taking their average price to 125.95p. Diesel went up 1.64p, making a litre cost 128.62p.

Wholesale prices rose as a result of oil enduring a mid-month boost, hitting a high of $67.41 on 10 July but falling away to $63.97 by the close. The other oil price-defining factor – the strength of sterling – took a dip following the change of Prime Minister, with the pound dropping 3% from $1.26 at the start of July to $1.22 by the close. In fact, the pound reached its lowest level against the dollar ($1.2152 on 30 July) since March 2017 ($1.2151 on 9 March 2017). Motorists will undoubtedly feel the pinch at the pumps if the pound remains this weak and oil were to rise to around $70 a barrel.

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “Sadly, July saw a return to rising pump prices making the respite of June all too brief. While there were only relatively small rises in both petrol and diesel, the situation might have been far worse if the drop in the value of the pound had combined with the higher mid-month oil prices. And, of course this could still very easily prove to be the case if the pound doesn’t recover in the next few weeks.

“The price of a barrel of oil has been fluctuating between $60 and $70 since the end of May as traders can’t seem to be able to get a clear understanding of what’s happening with global demand. On the one hand there is talk of an economic slowdown in China and, on the other, concerns about supply due to the tanker hijacking issues in the Strait of Hormuz through which a third of the world’s sea-borne oil supply is shipped.

“Drivers can only hope we don’t see the nasty combination of a rising oil price and a falling pound. If we do, August could prove to be a very costly month on the UK’s roads. This could easily lead to petrol going above the 2019 high of 130.67p seen at the start of June and diesel exceeding the year’s high point of 135.54p at the end of May.”

Average fuel price milestones

Unleaded

Date

Price

End of July

31/07/2019

129.21

2019 high

03/06/2019

130.67

Highest since 2014

15/10/2018

131.58

Previous highest price

15/07/2014

131.61

All-time high

16/04/2012

142.48

 

 

 

Diesel

Date

Price

End of July

31/07/2019

131.95

2019 high

30/05/2019

135.54

Highest since 2014

30/10/2018

136.94

Previous highest price

10/03/2014

137.17

All-time high

12/04/2012

147.93

Regional fuel price variation

Regional average unleaded pump prices

Unleaded

02/07/2019

01/08/2019

Change

UK average

127.77

129.15

1.38

Scotland

127.63

129.34

1.71

Yorkshire And The Humber

127.18

128.76

1.58

North West

127.42

128.89

1.47

South East

128.46

129.89

1.43

West Midlands

127.93

129.27

1.34

South West

127.75

129.07

1.32

East

127.97

129.23

1.26

Wales

126.93

128.19

1.26

North East

127.26

128.47

1.21

East Midlands

127.98

129.16

1.18

London

128.34

129.47

1.13

Northern Ireland

125.82

126.78

0.96

Regional average diesel pump prices

Diesel

02/07/2019

01/08/2019

Change

UK average

131.04

132.04

1.00

North East

129.53

130.78

1.25

North West

130.57

131.76

1.19

Scotland

130.72

131.89

1.17

Wales

130.32

131.45

1.13

London

131.02

132.06

1.04

East Midlands

131.42

132.44

1.02

West Midlands

131.10

132.10

1.00

South East

132.01

132.95

0.94

South West

131.48

132.37

0.89

Yorkshire And The Humber

130.49

131.35

0.86

Northern Ireland

128.48

129.26

0.78

East

132.04

132.78

0.74

Green – cheapest/least; red – most expensive/most

Motorists can keep abreast of the latest fuel prices by visiting the RAC Fuel Watch webpage.

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The RAC Media Centre provides journalists and news outlets with the latest motoring-related news, comment, data and research.

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