Fuming motorists have decried the rising cost of fuel, which has reached new highs at the pumps today, as the RAC declared a “national fuel crisis” that could soon see £2 per litre become the norm.
According to road users, some stations have already crossed the 200p mark, including a Gulf petrol outlet in Essex and another forecourt on the M6 in Cumbria.
A BP garage on the A1 in Sunderland, for example, was selling a litre of unleaded and diesel for 202.9p and 204.9p, respectively.
Motorists have complained about exorbitant costs elsewhere, such as 197.9p per litre unleaded at a Texaco garage in Wales, which was more expensive than the diesel, which was available for 194.9p.
Meanwhile, a petrol station in Fontwell, West Sussex, was selling fuel for 191.9p per litre, while a driver in Southampton paid 194.9p.
It occurred as wholesale gasoline prices hit a new high of 178.5p per litre this morning, up 0.6p in just 24 hours, as the Ukraine conflict and supply chain concerns continue to drive up wholesale costs.
Diesel prices have also risen to an average of 185.2p per litre. For both fuels, this is the biggest weekly gain since March.
The timing could not be more inconvenient, as Britons grapple with a rising cost of living crisis compounded by a 9% inflation rate.
Some businesses are already feeling the pinch, with freight companies stating that the cost of operating a single lorry has risen by £20,000 since last year, putting the haulage industry in a state of ‘crisis.’
One Manchester small company owner told MailOnline that his gasoline prices have risen dramatically in the last year.
‘Our cheapest for diesel is Tesco at £1.76.9,’ said Jon Randles, director of Proteger Protect, a stone and render cleaning company. Unfortunately, some local garages appear to be unconcerned about passing on the freshly implemented reductions.
‘Our local Shell is charging an eye watering £1.89.9!’
He added: ‘As a small business owner filling up my van three times a week and using diesel for my equipment, my weekly fuel costs are now in excess of £600 a week.’
The RAC had already warned that ‘frightening’ petrol prices will exceed an average of 180p per litre this week in what it described as a ‘national fuel crisis’.
The motoring body called for ‘radical government intervention’ after figures from data firm Experian Catalist showed petrol prices soared by nearly 6p per litre over the half-term school holiday.