The cost of fuel amid the current Middle East conflict continues to soar with drivers expressing their concerns about work and transport as costs have spiked to £2 a litre
Diesel prices have hiked with drivers expressing their concerns as they have ‘never seen prices this bad’.
The conflict in the Middle East currently shows no signs of halting and as long as the Strait of Hormuz remains blocks, experts have warned that fuel prices could continue to soar.
Despite the prime minister urging drivers to stop panic-buying petrol, across the nation there were still long queues at the pumps to refill.
On Sunday, the cost per litre of diesel hit 181.2p – up 27 per cent from 142.4p when the war began on February 28. Petrol had also increased to 152p per litre on average, up 14 per cent.
However, in three petrol stations, The Sun found that diesel cost 199.9p a litre.
The owners of the forecourts said that they have no control over the increase due to the prices they are currently paying.
Alan Hunter, 67, who owns Hope’s Garage in Penrith, Cumbria said: “It’s because of the price we have had to pay for it. We’re just a village filling station and not a big franchise and we cannot sell it at a loss.”
At R.E. Mills Motor Engineers in Rothley, Leicester, diesel cost 219.6p while unleaded was 195.6p a litre. Owner Ray Mills said: “I have to pay more for it from the supplier.
“I’m not making any more money and feel like apologising to customers although it is not my fault.”
Prices have appeared to stabilise slightly after the weekend but drivers have said if costs continue to rise they may have to make some changes to their daily lives. A delivery driver Iain Collins, 57, said he would have to consider getting “a job closer to home” due to the surging prices.
Van driver Matthew Clarke, 29, said he was worried about his company cutting hours adding: “I’ve never seen prices this bad.”
Experts have warned that if the war continues, these figures will worsen. Luke Bosdet, the AA’s spokesman on pump pricing, warned that drivers face paying £2.20 to £2.25 for diesel within weeks if conflict continues.
Bosdet said: “If the average is £1.90 to £1.95 you can add 30p on for motorway service stations and in remote areas with less trade.
“The reason places are selling diesel for 199.9p per litre is because of the psychological barrier — you cannot overstate the importance of that £2 threshold. It is difficult to predict what is going to happen in the near future. If Donald Trump and the Iranians make peace, prices will go through the floor.”
