Petrol pump prices jumped 2.17p in November, taking the average cost of a litre to 137.17p, the highest price since mid March. Diesel climbed 3.84p in the month to 146.57p per litre, a figure drivers haven't seen since late August 2024. The last time fuel prices rose as sharply in a single month was April 2024. The timing could not be worse. Christmas travel means millions of extra miles, and those miles now cost more than they did a year ago.
The cost of filling a family petrol car is now £75.44, up £1.19 from £74.25 at the end of October, with those using supermarket forecourts paying £73.69. A full diesel refill costs £80.61 on average, up £2.11 since the start of the month, and £78.69 at a supermarket. Compared to a year ago, petrol is about 0.5p per litre higher while diesel is more than 4p dearer. For families driving to see relatives over the extended break, the arithmetic is simple and unforgiving. More distance, higher prices, larger bills.
Drivers in Northern Ireland pay substantially less than those elsewhere in the UK, with a litre of unleaded just 129.6p on average and diesel at 137.7p. The regional disparity highlights what the rest of the country is absorbing. Northern Ireland's lower prices come from greater transparency and competition. Elsewhere, drivers face what they're given and pay accordingly.
The current increases follow last week's Budget announcement that the rate of fuel duty will begin to rise from 52.95p next September, ending the present 5p fuel duty discount introduced in spring 2022. That discount kept prices from climbing even higher during the worst of the cost of living crisis. Removing it adds another layer of expense to an already difficult situation. September feels distant now, but the increase is locked in, and prices will rise again when it arrives.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said drivers will be disappointed to see prices at the pumps rise so sharply in the run up to the festive period, noting it's one of the most expensive times of the year and also a time when many drive hundreds of miles to celebrate with family and friends over the extended break, making it a costly Christmas on the roads.
Supermarkets remain cheaper than independents, though not by the margin they once were. Supermarket prices increased with unleaded up 2.46p to 134.48p and diesel up 3.6p to 143.08p. The difference between supermarket and average prices is roughly £1.75 per tank for petrol, £2.50 for diesel. Worth finding if you're near one. Irrelevant if you're not.
The broader pattern shows prices still well below their 2024 peaks. Petrol prices are now 14p lower than the year's high of 150.6p recorded at the end of April 2024. Context matters, but so does direction of travel. Prices fell through the summer and autumn. Now they're climbing again, and the timing makes it hurt more. Christmas expenses pile up quickly. Travel costs adding to that pile creates pressure that families driving to see grandparents or friends feel immediately at the pump. December gives no discount for inconvenience.