New drivers who have just passed their test will soon realise how expensive it is to fuel the car they are now able to drive. However, this could be down to supermarkets, as it has been revealed the biggest retailers are not passing down their price cuts to customers. 

RAC Fuel Watch reported some supermarkets are currently profiting 15p a litre on petrol and diesel, at a time when motorists are struggling to fill up their tanks. 

It typically costs 160.86p for a litre of petrol and 184.41p for the same amount of diesel. However, wholesale unleaded was 130p per litre and 158p per litre for diesel in mid-October and dropped to 117p and 136p respectively since then. 

Despite this, prices for customers have only dropped by 3p a litre for petrol and 4.4p per litre for diesel. 

Simon Williamson, fuel spokesman for RAC, said it is “very sad” the retail giants are taking advantage of customers. 

He noted that supermarkets typically set the price for fuel, as they traditionally sold it cheaper than other forecourts. Therefore, if their prices remain high, so will other fuel stations’. 

“There is now a remarkable lack of competition among the four main players, which means prices are far higher than they should be,” Mr Williamson stated.

Therefore, RAC wants the supermarkets to “do the right thing” and lower prices by 5p a litre. 

Fuel costs have soared over the last two years, escalating from 116.67p per litre for petrol in January 2021.

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