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| Diesel prices reach record of over £1.80 a litre | Diesel prices reach record of over £1.80 a litre |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| UK diesel prices rose to a record of just over £1.80 a litre as efforts to stop importing fuel from Russia pushed up costs for retailers, the RAC said. | UK diesel prices rose to a record of just over £1.80 a litre as efforts to stop importing fuel from Russia pushed up costs for retailers, the RAC said. |
| After the previous record of £1.79 was set in March following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, prices dipped but have risen again in recent weeks. | After the previous record of £1.79 was set in March following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, prices dipped but have risen again in recent weeks. |
| The RAC said petrol prices went up by nearly 3p a litre since the start of May and were £1.66 a litre on average. | The RAC said petrol prices went up by nearly 3p a litre since the start of May and were £1.66 a litre on average. |
| It said if EU members agreed to ban Russian oil, prices could rise further. | It said if EU members agreed to ban Russian oil, prices could rise further. |
| The EU has been focusing for weeks on how to wean itself off Russian energy and has plans to phase out Russian crude oil over six months. | The EU has been focusing for weeks on how to wean itself off Russian energy and has plans to phase out Russian crude oil over six months. |
| However, countries are split on how soon they wind down dependence - Hungary has rejected the proposal as unacceptable and the Czech and Slovak governments want a transition period. | However, countries are split on how soon they wind down dependence - Hungary has rejected the proposal as unacceptable and the Czech and Slovak governments want a transition period. |
| Although the UK only imports a small amount of Russian oil, 18% of it is diesel. The UK is not as dependent on it as the EU is, but it is still affected when global prices rise. | |
| "Efforts to move away from importing Russian diesel have led to a tightening of supply and pushed up the price retailers pay for diesel," said RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams. | "Efforts to move away from importing Russian diesel have led to a tightening of supply and pushed up the price retailers pay for diesel," said RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams. |
| "Unfortunately, drivers with diesel vehicles need to brace themselves for yet more pain at the pumps." | "Unfortunately, drivers with diesel vehicles need to brace themselves for yet more pain at the pumps." |
| Cutting back | Cutting back |
| In recent weeks, fuel sales have fallen as drivers have cut back on the number of journeys they make due to higher pump prices | In recent weeks, fuel sales have fallen as drivers have cut back on the number of journeys they make due to higher pump prices |
| Petrol station operator Ascona Group, which owns 60 UK petrol stations, said the amount of fuel it sold had dropped by 200,000 litres a week compared to pre-pandemic levels. | Petrol station operator Ascona Group, which owns 60 UK petrol stations, said the amount of fuel it sold had dropped by 200,000 litres a week compared to pre-pandemic levels. |
| Managing director Darren Briggs said customers were making £20 to £30 fuel purchases "last a little bit longer". | Managing director Darren Briggs said customers were making £20 to £30 fuel purchases "last a little bit longer". |
| The Office for National Statistics revealed last week that the UK's economy shrank by 0.1% in March and said higher prices, including those at the petrol pumps, were "really beginning to bite". | The Office for National Statistics revealed last week that the UK's economy shrank by 0.1% in March and said higher prices, including those at the petrol pumps, were "really beginning to bite". |
| The downturn came ahead of the impact of higher energy bills in April, which has sparked fears from analysts that the UK economy is at risk of a recession - defined as the economy getting smaller for two consecutive three-month periods - later this year. | The downturn came ahead of the impact of higher energy bills in April, which has sparked fears from analysts that the UK economy is at risk of a recession - defined as the economy getting smaller for two consecutive three-month periods - later this year. |
| How much will the fuel duty cut on petrol save you? | How much will the fuel duty cut on petrol save you? |
| Drivers cut back on journeys as fuel costs bite | Drivers cut back on journeys as fuel costs bite |
| In a bid to curb rising fuel prices, Chancellor Rishi Sunak cut the fuel duty by 5p a litre after previous record prices were seen in March. | In a bid to curb rising fuel prices, Chancellor Rishi Sunak cut the fuel duty by 5p a litre after previous record prices were seen in March. |
| The RAC said then the cut was "a drop in the ocean" and now claimed drivers would be better off if had Mr Sunak reduced VAT on fuel. | The RAC said then the cut was "a drop in the ocean" and now claimed drivers would be better off if had Mr Sunak reduced VAT on fuel. |
| "Had Mr Sunak reduced VAT to 15% as we called on him to do instead of cutting duty by 5p, drivers of diesel vehicles would be around 2p a litre better off, or £1 for every full tank," Mr Williams said. | "Had Mr Sunak reduced VAT to 15% as we called on him to do instead of cutting duty by 5p, drivers of diesel vehicles would be around 2p a litre better off, or £1 for every full tank," Mr Williams said. |
| "As it is, drivers are still paying 27p VAT on petrol and 29p on diesel, which is just the same as before the Spring Statement." | "As it is, drivers are still paying 27p VAT on petrol and 29p on diesel, which is just the same as before the Spring Statement." |
| The BBC has contacted the Treasury for comment. | The BBC has contacted the Treasury for comment. |
| The price of Brent crude oil - the global benchmark for prices - has soared in recent months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine raised concerns of potential global supply issues. | The price of Brent crude oil - the global benchmark for prices - has soared in recent months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine raised concerns of potential global supply issues. |
| Ahead of the invasion, fuel prices had already been rising after demand increased following the reopening of economies from coronavirus lockdowns. | Ahead of the invasion, fuel prices had already been rising after demand increased following the reopening of economies from coronavirus lockdowns. |