Motorists report paying more than ever to fill up their cars, despite government cutting the tax on fuel by 5p a litre.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak yesterday confirmed the cut to fuel duty as part of his Spring Statement.
The cut means drivers are paying 52.92p in tax for every litre of petrol and diesel from 6pm last night, until March next year.
In real terms, drivers should be paying 6p less per litre, not 5p, because the government also charges VAT at 20% on top of fuel duty.
But many drivers say their local forecourts are not dropping their prices - and others report price gouging by petrol stations whacking up fuel prices before the government announcement.
The Mirror has spoken to a worker in Bere Regis, Dorset, who said his local garage put their prices up by 3p a litre before the Chancellor's announcement, then another 5p after it.
Then at 6pm last night they cut their prices by 5p - leaving him and other local drivers paying 2p more for fuel despite the tax break.
"Fuel prices are a major problem," he said. "I have a 50-mile round trip commute to work each day, but aside from that I am trying to use my car less."
This 5p fuel duty relief is garbage. Local BP garage had petrol at 169.9 per litre last week, rose to 171.9 yesterday and is still 171.9 today, even after the 6pm point the relief came in. Another opportunist moment for them to line their pockets. Pathetic really.
— Shinka (@Haushinkadaz)
Emma Jones, 48, lives in Blaenau Gwent, Wales, with her husband and son.
She said the 5p-a-litre tax cut was "absolutely ridiculous" as the cost of fuel was so high anyway.
Emma, who uses her car on most days said: "If he cut fuel duty for just one month that could help everybody.
"Around here a lot of garages put their prices up by 5p, only to drop them again.
"This is a Spring Statement aimed at the well off, not the average person."
I love the fact that all our local petrol stations increased the price of petrol by more than 5p the day the chancellor announced they'd be reducing it...
— Andy Ashburner (@caffeinehit)
Most Brits (72%) are 'very worried' about rising prices for fuel, according to market researchers Appinio.
Barry Hearn, 72, lives with his wife Marie, 71, and the couple have been married for 47 years.
Barry, who lives in Watford, was a lorry driver and London cabbie before he retired.
He said: "The Spring Statement has not done enough for the least well-off in society.
"Our daughter lives 150 miles away, and the cost of fuel means we are driving to see her far less."
Fuel costs in his area have gone up from around £1.43p a litre a year ago to £1.70 today.
