Supermarket fuel price wars limp on
2 minute read | April 3, 2017
With the announcement that Asda would be cutting the cost of fuel on their forecourt by 2p, cash strapped drivers up and down the country were salivating in anticipation for a full-scale price war overturning months of gradual increases at the pumps.
As history has shown us time and again, one of the big four can’t do something without the others jumping on the bandwagon. Unfortunately, the dream was short lived when the rivals failed to match Asda’s generosity.
Refuel by numbers
New research from the AA found that the average price of fuel is just half a penny lower per litre than it was a month ago. Now unless we’re in 1940s, half pennies don’t have the same appeal as they once did.
As part of the motoring groups latest Fuel Price Report, it found the average UK pump price fell from 120.07p a litre the weekend before the price cut was announced to 119.31p a litre the day after the cuts. Keep the change.
Petrol’s average pump price peaked at 120.45p a litre on the 19th February ending an almost three-month continual price increase starting on the 28th November when petrol cost 113.89p a litre.
The key words are ‘up to’
Supermarkets are savvy, their compliance departments even more so. So, it stands to reason that the wording for the incoming savings would have been chosen carefully. Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s are all advertising savings of ‘up to’ 2p at the pumps, when, in many cases, costs were only cut by 1p.
And the inconsistencies don’t just end there. Depending on the part of the country you decide to refuel in, Supermarket prices can fluctuate by as much as 7p a litre.*
*For a more in-depth look at the varying costs of fuel up and down the country check out our infographic here.
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