RAC says petrol and diesel prices eased late in April, but higher wholesale costs could soon reach UK forecourts
- Perry Richardson
- 10 hours ago
- 2 min read
UK drivers could face fresh fuel price rises in May after wholesale petrol and diesel costs climbed by around 5p a litre, according to the RAC.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said April was “a month of two halves for fuel prices”, with pump prices rising sharply in the first half before easing slightly towards month-end.
Petrol rose nearly 5p to an average of 158.31p on 15 April, while diesel increased by more than 7p to 191.54p. By the end of April, petrol had fallen by more than 1p and diesel by 3p.
Northern Ireland saw faster reductions than the UK average, with unleaded down by almost 4p and diesel nearly 10p a litre lower.
Williams warned that wholesale prices were now at their highest level since the war began, although the increase had not yet fully reached pump prices. “If oil prices, and in turn wholesale fuel prices, remain at elevated levels over the coming weeks then future price rises at forecourts is all but inevitable,” he said.
The RAC urged drivers and fleet operators to compare prices locally and use fuel price apps to reduce costs when filling up.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: "April proved to be a month of two halves for fuel prices. The first half saw pump prices climb ever higher, with petrol rising nearly 5p to an average of 158.31p on 15 April and diesel by more than 7p to 191.54p. But more positively for drivers, the second half of the month saw them drop back slightly with petrol coming down over a penny and diesel 3p by the end of April. Interestingly, we note that prices in Northern Ireland reduced more quickly compared to the UK averages, with unleaded coming down by almost 4p and diesel by nearly 10p a litre.
"The outlook for the first couple of weeks of May, however, is more ominous. Wholesale petrol and diesel prices jumped by around 5p a litre last week, and are now at their highest since the war began. This hasn’t yet been reflected at the pumps - petrol is up by just a fraction of a penny so far this month, and diesel has continued to slowly drift downwards. But if oil prices, and in turn wholesale fuel prices, remain at elevated levels over the coming weeks then future price rises at forecourts is all but inevitable.“
