Currently reading: Fuel prices begin comedown as wholesale price drops
Amid rising fuel prices at the pumps, the RAC point out wholesale prices have dropped and that the savings aren’t being passed on to the customer; prices are now starting to relax

Fuel prices are beginning to relax, as supermarket Asda announced a price cap of £1.25 for petrol and £1.28 for diesel across its UK filling stations - a drop of up to 3p and 2p respectively, reports the Guardian.

The move will likely lead other retailers to drop their prices to compete, following an explosion in petrol pricing, despite wholesale costs falling. 

On the same day that Asda announced its price drop, the RAC called on fuel retailers to lower petrol and diesel prices for consumers to match a recent fall in wholesale prices.

RAC fuel spokesman Rod Dennis said: “At last, retailers have done the right thing and started to cut prices at the pumps. From our data, we could see no justification for them holding on to savings that they have been benefiting from for three weeks. It is absolutely right that at times when wholesale prices are falling, forecourt prices follow suit.”

The average price of a litre of petrol increased by 6p to 129.41p in May — the steepest monthly rise in 18 years, according to RAC figures. 

High oil prices are blamed for the high pump price, in addition to the weak pound against the US dollar (oil is traded in dollars). But speculation around Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) states agreeing to halt their squeeze on oil supply, which is currently inflating prices, has made prices fall at wholesalers in preparation for a larger dip. 

OPEC meets on 22 June, and prices have fallen in the weeks leading up to the meeting. However, retailers have not lowered their prices accordingly, sparking concerns that retailers are stockpiling profits ahead of a possible price war if a price dip happens, rather than matching their prices to the wholesale cost. 

Dennis said: “Our data shows that it’s high time retailers cut the price of petrol and diesel at the pumps; we see no good reason for them to wait before passing on savings they are benefiting from, which have been brought about by falling wholesale prices.

“The oil price, together with the sterling/dollar exchange rate, are notoriously volatile, which means the price retailers pay when they buy fuel fluctuates regularly. But given how rapidly prices can go up when the wholesale price rises, it is not right that when wholesale prices fall, many retailers seem to wait before making a headline-grabbing cut."

There have been suggestions that, rather than increasing supply, OPEC could continue its limit or cut it further to push up prices. The current price for a barrel of oil is around $80, but an OPEC squeeze could send this up to $100. Should oil prices reach three figures for a barrel, this could lead to record pump prices. In April 2012, the average price for a litre of petrol was around £1.43 but, due to the weaker pound, if oil now exceeds $100/barrel UK retail fuel prices would almost certainly surpass this. 

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Peter Cavellini 13 June 2018

How low can they go....?

 You would think the nearer the Refinery the cheaper Fuel should be....!!?, but it isn’t, the two places I fill up at are maybe 30 minutes from where the Fuels is made, it’s still £1.24 a litre!, and yes, I feel sorry for those of us who a couple of hundred miles away, but, costs have to be covered transporting it wherever, so a Cap £1.25, a month ago I could buy it at £1.18p!, so a price War will start, but I bet it doesn’t go past £1.18p!, so the Supermarkets aren’t losing especially if they start the 10p of per litre if you spend £60.00 in store.....

405line 13 June 2018

Motoring is on the wane.

Last couple of decades of unlimited profit before their cash cows (petrol and diesel) starts getting the chop in any case. TBH it's the same as the old budget when queues of cars used to be at the petrol station before the 6pm price rise deadline however the "benefits" from the same budget used to be months away.

Sulphur Man 13 June 2018

@max1e6.  Saddam tried that.

@max1e6.  Saddam tried that. It didnt end well