Seven UK regions now exceeding 2012 record high petrol price

Image: Getty
Image: Getty

With a new record high petrol price of 142.94p set on Sunday 24 October, the RAC today reveals that the cost of unleaded in seven UK regions has now exceeded the previous high of 142.48p a litre reached on 16 April 2012.

The latest RAC Fuel Watch data* shows that Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the North East and Yorkshire and the Humber are the only places in the UK where the average cost of a litre of petrol is still below the old record price.

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said:

“With oil now at $86 a barrel and retailers taking more margin per litre than they did nine and half years ago, it surely won’t be long before every nation and region of the UK, perhaps apart from Northern Ireland, exceeds the 2012 high petrol price of 142.48p a litre.

“These high prices will be hurting households and businesses everywhere and could have a damaging effect on the economy at a time when it is recovering from the worst impact of the pandemic.

“We urge the Government to help ease the burden at the pumps by temporarily reducing VAT and for the biggest retailers to bring the amount they make on every litre of petrol back down to the level it was prior to the pandemic.”

Find out more about UK petrol and diesel priceson the RAC website.

Press office team

Press office team

For journalist enquiries only

Share

Latest News

Website preview
Busiest Easter bank holiday on the roads in three years with 19m trips expected
RAC is predicting a ‘hat-trick of hold-ups’ as around 2.7m trips are planned on Thursday 17th, Good Friday 18th and Saturday 19th April
media.rac.co.uk
Website preview
Only 3% of England’s local roads received any form of maintenance in 2023/24
2,616 fewer miles of road maintained in 2023/24 compared to six years ago
media.rac.co.uk
Website preview
Petrol and diesel prices could drop to their lowest in three-and-a-half years - RAC reaction
With oil prices falling sharply in the wake of new import tariffs announced in the United States, RAC head of policy Simon Williams said:
media.rac.co.uk

Get updates in your mailbox

By clicking "Subscribe" I confirm I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy.

About RAC Media Centre

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

The RAC is an iconic UK brand, and provides complete peace of mind to nearly 14 million UK private and business drivers - whatever their motoring needs. As well as its premium nationwide breakdown assistance service – with an expert branded patrol workforce attending more than two million breakdowns every year – and European breakdown assistance products, it offers a wide range of market-leading products across insurance, legal services, vehicle inspections and service, maintenance and repair. Included in this is the first-of-its-kind nationwide Mobile Mechanics service which brings the garage to homes and workplaces. 

At the forefront of new solutions for business fleets and consumers, the RAC’s breakdown service is electric-ready with mobile EV charging technology and be called on using myRAC – its all-in-one route planner, fuel finder and breakdown reporting app