Petrol up by 6p a litre this year
Petrol now costs an average of 113p a litre – a rise of 6p since the start of the year.
The figure has risen from 82.6p during the petrol crisis of 10 years ago. Drivers are being encouraged to shop around as prices vary by up to 10p a litre around the county.
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BP petrol station at Leicester Forest East services
With another tax rise just weeks away, there are fears prices will soon get back to the record levels of July 2008 when the average was 119.7p.
At Leicester Forest East service Station on the M1, unleaded petrol costs 120.9p and diesel 121.9p per litre, but several locations, such as supermarkets, are selling it at £109.9, giving drivers an incentive to shop around for potential savings of about £5 per fuel tank.
Brendan McLoughlin, of website petrolprices.com, said: "With no huge leaps in price, no-one's going crazy about what's happening, but there is a lot of anger at the cost of petrol creeping up and up.
"In Leicestershire, people can save up to £4 or £5 a tank by shopping around."
The price of crude oil has increased, but the increase is also partly is also partly fuelled by American driving habits.
Prices typically rise in spring, when more drivers in the US take road trips. Oil refineries also add chemicals to gasoline to help it burn in warmer weather, pushing up the cost.
In Britain, fuel duty is due to rise by 1.12p a litre.
According to the AA, UK drivers have been hit much harder than others in Europe by petrol tax rises since the credit crunch started.
The motoring organisation said that since November 2008, fuel duty and VAT on petrol had gone up by 11.46%, compared with a Western European average of 5%.
An AA spokesman said: "Petrol and diesel are necessities for the majority of the population and businesses, yet are taxed as luxuries."
Motorist Carol Markham, 65, from Queniborough, said: "I think everyone's noticing the cost of petrol going up again.
"We have a Mercedes and a smaller car and you notice how much extra it's costing to fill a tank. I'm retired now so I'm only driving every other day. But I'm spending about £30 a month on petrol."
Steve Robinson, 43, from Wigston Fields, who commutes to Evington each day, said: "Even though I don't drive far I've noticed a gradual increase in how much I'm spending.
"I've recently bought a smaller car, which is a good move because you save so much on insurance and tax as well."
At the height of the 2000 fuel crisis, the average price for a litre of diesel in Leicestershire was 85.2p (£3.87 a gallon), according to the AA. Unleaded petrol cost September 2000 was 82.6p (£3.75 a gallon).
Do you know the cheapest/most expensive places in Leicestershire for petrol? E-mail "petrol" to:
31 Comments
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by r gobind, belgrave
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 11:46AM
“its shame for labour goverment”
by Cecilia, Norfolk
Wednesday, March 10 2010, 9:34AM
“There's a scheme in Leicestershire for people who want to save money on fuel costs by car-sharing. Free to join and use. It's at www.leicestershare.com”
by Rich, Leicester
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 2:47PM
“Karin, Oadby - what about people using 'fog lights' in all weathers? Usually when its a bit dark, you get some fool up behind you lit up like a christmas tree. It makes me laugh, as they must either be that blind that they can't see its not foggy, or are not aware they have them on - and in my veiw, if you are not aware what lights you have on your own car, then you are not fully in controll!”
by Karin, Oadby
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 2:32PM
“Sorry LH not being pedantic, just have to qualify my remark. I meant speeding up to a light that was ALREADY showing red, not a light that was changing from green to red. I mean, just where do they think they are going? Totally agree about those that nip through as they are changing, they are not simply fools, they are dangerous.”
by LH, Leicester
Tuesday, March 09 2010, 2:18PM
“The people who speed up at a red light and don't brake annoy me more. Particularly when they nearly take the front end off my car!! I think a majority of us are probably guilty of trying to nip through the light and then realising you don't have time and having to brake at the last second now and again!”