Fuel prices stabilise after 43-day surge as RAC signals possible cuts ahead
- Perry Richardson
- 12 hours ago
- 2 min read
Fuel prices across the UK have levelled off following more than six weeks of sustained increases, with industry data suggesting potential relief for motorists and commercial drivers in the near term.
According to the RAC, petrol rose by 25.5p per litre between 28 February and 14 April to reach 158.3p, while diesel climbed significantly higher by 49.2p to 191.54p per litre over the same period. This represents increases of 19.2% for petrol and 34.5% for diesel.
RAC Head of Policy Simon Williams said the upward trend appears to have halted after 43 consecutive days of rises. “Pump prices appear to have finally stopped rising after 43 days of increases which saw petrol go up 25.5p to 158.3p and diesel 49p to 191.54p. Wholesale fuel costs are now significantly lower than they were at the start of the month, so forecourt prices should begin to come down,” he said.
Williams added that reductions of several pence per litre could materialise within days if wholesale trends are reflected at the pumps. “As things stand, we’d expect petrol and diesel to drop by several pence a litre in the next week or so,” he said.
Wholesale costs fall, raising expectations of pump price reductions within days
Despite the pause in price increases, costs remain elevated for both private motorists and commercial operators. Filling a typical family car now costs around £87 for petrol and £105 for diesel, representing increases of £14 and £27 respectively compared with the start of the recent geopolitical tensions impacting fuel markets.
For taxi and private hire operators, sustained high diesel prices in particular continue to place pressure on margins, given the sector’s reliance on diesel vehicles and limited ability to pass on costs quickly through regulated fares in some areas.
The extent to which falling wholesale prices translate into lower pump costs will be closely watched by fleet operators and drivers, particularly as fuel remains one of the largest operating expenses across the licensed transport sector.
Williams said: "Pump prices appear to have finally stopped rising after 43 days of increases which saw petrol go up 25.5p to 158.3p and diesel 49p to 191.54p. Wholesale fuel costs are now significantly lower than they were at the start of the month, so forecourt prices should begin to come down. As things stand, we'd expect petrol and diesel to drop by several pence a litre in the next week or so.
"It will be very interesting to see if this plays out as the data indicates. We hope it does as drivers could do with some relief at the pumps with a tank of petrol for a family car now costing £87 and the diesel equivalent £105 - £14 and £27 more than they did at the start of the conflict."
