Motorists got another pasting today as petrol prices rose for the sixth day running.
But calls on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to bring in immediate tax cuts fell on deaf ears again.
Unleaded was up almost a penny in a day to a new high of 183.16p a litre.
The AA said it is the “worst week of pump pain so far”.
The organisation estimates the high street is losing £23million a day as people cut back on spending to keep their cars on the road.
Unleaded has soared 7p in a week and 50p compared to this time last year.
Diesel also rose nearly a penny today to 188.82p – up 4.5p in a week.
AA president Edmund King called for “more fuel price transparency to stop the daily rip-offs at the pumps”.
RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “It’s becoming clearer by the day that the Government must take further action to reduce the enormous financial burden on drivers. But based on statements given today it seems fixated on ensuring retailers are passing on March’s 5p duty cut fully.”
Mr Williams slated the 5p fuel duty cut as “a drop in the ocean” for drivers.
Figures from the RAC show the average price for motorway petrol is 197.81 a litre and just over £2 for diesel.
Despite daily demands for help on the forecourts from fuel duty being slashed by a further 10p to VAT cuts, there is little sign of any relief from Chancellor Rishi Sunak.
Boris Johnson has refused to budge and said: “We made a cut already – the biggest cut ever in fuel duty.
“I want to see those cuts having an impact on the pumps.”
But Tory grandee Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: “Getting the burden down on people is critical and I would like to see tax cuts.”
Public services union Unison told how soaring petrol prices are forcing carers off the road as they can’t afford the fuel to get to work.
Christina McAnea, general secretary of Unison, blasted the Government for “not having a plan” to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and said those in the health and care sector were paying the price with workers calling in sick to cover the fact their cars were running on empty.
She said that sky high petrol prices were “having a big impact on people with jobs that mean they have to travel.”
And she added: “Community health workers, health visitors, care workers, social workers are saying they just cannot afford to do their jobs any more.
“We’re actually hearing of people who would rather phone in sick because they don’t have the money to fill up their cars and do their jobs.”
