Petrol and diesel prices have reached record highs, according to new figures
(Picture: PA Archive)The cost of filling up a family car has hit £100 for the first time ever after fuel prices rose again over the weekend.
The rises mean it drivers of diesel cars will have to pay £100 for a typical 55 litre tank after the price went to 182.71 a litre on Saturday. Unleaded also rose to a new record of 172.73p a litre, lifting the cost of a tank above £95.
The landmarks came as the price of a barrel of Brent Crude - the benchmark for oil - hit $120 for the first time since March, all but guaranteeing further forecourt hikes.
The increase came as European leaders argued about imposing further sanctions on Russian oil imports.
RAC fuel spokesperson Simon Williams said: “With crude oil prices consistently above $115 a barrel last week, worse is sadly yet to come just in time for the Jubilee bank holiday, particularly as petrol is now more expensive than diesel on the wholesale market.
“Due to the rapid rise in the cost of wholesale unleaded retailers are now taking smaller margins on petrol but larger ones on diesel. If the wholesale price of petrol stays above diesel, we ought to see the current 10p-a-litre gap in average petrol and diesel forecourt prices narrow. If this doesn’t happen diesel drivers will be getting a raw deal, and with prices at these historic highs, every penny matters to drivers.”
