Retailers have reported staff at working at petrol stations across the UK have seen a surge in verbal abuse over high fuel prices. Drivers are now being urged to not take their anger out on forecourt workers..
It comes as families up and down the nation are struggling under the pressures of soaring household, energy and fuel prices amid the cost of living crisis. Despite a drop in wholesale costs, motorists are continuing to be hit by increasing fuel prices, Wales Online reports.
According to new figures from data firm Experian, the average price of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts reached a new high of 191.4p on Thursday (June 30) - almost £2 - while diesel topped 199.1p. Supermarket fuel retailers have also stopped cutting pump prices to encourage customers into their stores, motorists were warned.
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AA's head of roads policy, Jack Cousens, said: “With Wimbledon well under way, drivers may be forgiven for borrowing the iconic rant from John McEnroe as they pull up to the pump – ‘You cannot be serious!’. However, with some reports of aggressive behaviour towards forecourt staff.
"We urge people to channel the zen-like mentality of Roger Federer when refuelling and not abuse staff. It is not their fault, which is why the AA is directly challenging the Government, retailers and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to find a quick and effective solution.”
RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said the rise in the price of petrol illustrates “the biggest retailers’ resistance to reduce their pump prices in line with the lower wholesale cost of unleaded”. He added: “Rather than passing on some of the savings they are benefiting from, they are clearly banking on the wholesale market moving up again which is disappointing for drivers who are desperate to see an end to ever-rising prices.
“Sadly, there no longer seems to be any appetite among the big four supermarkets to drive customers into their stores with lower pump prices. We question whether we will ever see much competition between supermarkets over fuel again, let alone a so-called ‘price war’.”
MPs were told on Tuesday, June 28, by Chancellor Rishi Sunak that he will carefully consider calls for a “more substantial” fuel duty cut, after the 5p per litre reduction implemented in March failed to halt price rises. In June, the CMA launched a “short and focused review” into how much drivers are being charged for fuel, after a request by Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng.
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