The gap between petrol and diesel prices has hit a record high due to Russia reducing gas supplies. Analysis of Government figures by the PA news agency and the RAC Foundation found the average price of a litre of diesel is nearly 17p more expensive than petrol.
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said the difference is mainly due to an increase in the amount of diesel being used for heating and power generation in continental Europe because Russia has cut gas exports. Figures from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy show average pump prices for a litre of fuel on Monday were 180.3p for diesel and 163.8p for petrol.
This means filling a typical 55-litre family diesel car is around £9 more expensive than for petrol models. The price difference is the largest in records dating back to June 2003. Diesel has only cost around 5p per litre more than petrol on average since then.
