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| Petrol price surge adds 6.24p to a litre in a month | Petrol price surge adds 6.24p to a litre in a month |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The plunging pound and market speculators are driving up the cost of petrol, according to the AA. | |
| The motoring organisation revealed the average cost of petrol in the UK is now 138.32p a litre, with diesel having risen 4.78p from its mid-January price to an average of 145.10p. | The motoring organisation revealed the average cost of petrol in the UK is now 138.32p a litre, with diesel having risen 4.78p from its mid-January price to an average of 145.10p. |
| The latest figures show that petrol has risen 6.24p a litre since early January – 1p of that in the past five days – adding £3.12 to the cost of refilling a typical 50-litre tank. | The latest figures show that petrol has risen 6.24p a litre since early January – 1p of that in the past five days – adding £3.12 to the cost of refilling a typical 50-litre tank. |
| The AA said filling up the 70-litre tank of a Ford Mondeo now costs £4.37 more than six weeks ago. A two-car family's monthly petrol cost has risen £13.25 with the current price surge. | The AA said filling up the 70-litre tank of a Ford Mondeo now costs £4.37 more than six weeks ago. A two-car family's monthly petrol cost has risen £13.25 with the current price surge. |
| It added that drivers have been caught in the pincers of a pound weakened against the dollar and soaring wholesale prices – both due to stock market speculation. | It added that drivers have been caught in the pincers of a pound weakened against the dollar and soaring wholesale prices – both due to stock market speculation. |
| Regionally, Yorkshire and Humberside and the north of England are currently cheapest for petrol at 137.6p a litre, while prices in London and Scotland are at an average of 137.8p. Northern Ireland is the most expensive at 138.7p. | Regionally, Yorkshire and Humberside and the north of England are currently cheapest for petrol at 137.6p a litre, while prices in London and Scotland are at an average of 137.8p. Northern Ireland is the most expensive at 138.7p. |
| Yorkshire and Humberside is also the cheapest region for diesel, averaging 144.2p, while East Anglia, Northern Ireland and south-east England are the most expensive at 145.2p. | Yorkshire and Humberside is also the cheapest region for diesel, averaging 144.2p, while East Anglia, Northern Ireland and south-east England are the most expensive at 145.2p. |
| AA president, Edmund King, said: "This latest surge in fuel prices and its impact on spending indicates that UK drivers and families can't take any more. We are no longer talking of the motorist as a cash cow for tax and speculator greed, but a horse slowly but surely being flogged to death. | AA president, Edmund King, said: "This latest surge in fuel prices and its impact on spending indicates that UK drivers and families can't take any more. We are no longer talking of the motorist as a cash cow for tax and speculator greed, but a horse slowly but surely being flogged to death. |
| "This is the third 10p-a-litre wholesale price surge in 11 months, given extra vigour by currency speculators betting against the pound." | "This is the third 10p-a-litre wholesale price surge in 11 months, given extra vigour by currency speculators betting against the pound." |
| The AA also reported that official figures showed January's UK petrol sales fell to the lowest level tracked by government in 23 years. | The AA also reported that official figures showed January's UK petrol sales fell to the lowest level tracked by government in 23 years. |
| Drivers used 1.465bn litres of petrol in January 2013, down 14m on the previous all-time low set in March 2012, and nearly 100m below December 2012's consumption of 1.564bn. | Drivers used 1.465bn litres of petrol in January 2013, down 14m on the previous all-time low set in March 2012, and nearly 100m below December 2012's consumption of 1.564bn. |
| The AA said UK diesel consumption also fell in January, down to 1.923bn litres for cars, haulage and other uses. | The AA said UK diesel consumption also fell in January, down to 1.923bn litres for cars, haulage and other uses. |
| King called on the government to cancel plans to increase fuel duty later in the year. "Given the lashing motoring families and UK businesses are taking from speculator-driven fuel prices, we hope the chancellor spells out clearly in the forthcoming budget that he can feel the pressure that rocketing fuel price inflation places on families and business, and that he will cancel the September rise if that strain is too great." | King called on the government to cancel plans to increase fuel duty later in the year. "Given the lashing motoring families and UK businesses are taking from speculator-driven fuel prices, we hope the chancellor spells out clearly in the forthcoming budget that he can feel the pressure that rocketing fuel price inflation places on families and business, and that he will cancel the September rise if that strain is too great." |