Wednesday June 25, 08:46 PM
New Blow For Motorists At The Pumps
By Sky News
Motorists have been dealt a new blow with average diesel prices in Britain hitting £6 a gallon for the first time. The AA said prices reached an average 132.03p per litre or £6 a gallon on Tuesday. It means diesel is now 35%
dearer than a year ago.Average unleaded petrol prices also hit a record of 118.65p per litre on Tuesday - or £5.39 a gallon, the AA said. Filling up a tank with 50 litres now costs an extra £10.86 for petrol compared to a year ago, and £17.38 for diesel. AA president Edmund King said: "The £6 gallon would have been an unrealistic nightmare to motorists only one year ago yet today it is a reality." Mr King renewed his call for Chancellor Alistair Darling to scrap November's planned 2p a litre rise in fuel duty. He added: "Fuel is taxed as a luxury item at rates higher than champagne rather than as a necessity." The huge increase in the cost of petrol and diesel follows a 40% rise in oil prices in the past year. Crude has been hovering around the $137 dollars a barrel mark, marginally lower than last week's all-time high of $139.89. Many say extra demand from China and India and speculation by commodity traders are mainly to blame for the soaring cost.
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