Diesel drivers ripped off at the pump
Motorists are being overcharged for diesel by as much as 6p a litre, the latest industry figures show.
While the wholesale price for diesel is currently up to 3p a litre less than that of petrol, retailers are charging 3p more. Diesel now averages 120p per litre, compared to 117p for petrol, the RAC's Fuel Watch report for June reveals.
While some retailers have narrowed the gap between the two prices, very few – if any – are charging less for diesel than petrol. In many cases, indeed, diesel is as much as 5p more.
"The retail price of diesel has almost become a taboo subject, despite 2.4 billion litres being sold in May, compared to just 1.5bn litres of petrol," says RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams.
"While retailers are obviously free to choose how much they charge for petrol and diesel, we believe that motorists deserve to be treated fairly and that means forecourt prices that reflect the wholesale market."
More than half the new cars and light commercial vehicles leaving the showroom are diesel-powered, he says. This is partly because motorists believe they are better for the environment - a belief, that now appears to be wrong.
"Not only are diesel drivers now being demonised due to the increasing concerns over harmful nitrogen dioxide and particulate emissions, they are consistently having to pay a premium for their fuel," says Williams.
"And all this comes after years in which the taxation system has encouraged motorists to buy low carbon dioxide emitting vehicles. This has led to a big take-up of small, fuel-efficient diesel vehicles by motorists believing their choice of vehicle was good for the environment as well as their pocket."
Recent research from globalpetrolprices.com revealed that, thanks to taxes, the UK has the highest price in the world for diesel. It's a situation that Steve Clarke, group marketing manager for The Fuelcard People, describes as 'embarrassing'.
"Even firms in notoriously expensive places like Switzerland, Luxembourg and Monaco pay less for petrol. Everyone in the world pays less than our companies have to pay for diesel," he says.
"With fuel being a major cost for any business using the roads, we are trying to compete internationally on a very uneven playing field. With a deficit to clear and no room for manoeuvre, nobody should expect the government to be reducing fuel duty in the foreseeable future."
The good news is that the RAC believes that the wholesale price of diesel will drop by around 5p a litre in the next two weeks - though this saving won't necessarily be passed on.
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