Petrol prices Bristol: Only four filling stations in city selling fuel for ‘fair price’ according to the RAC

The RAC has urged petrol stations to ‘do the right thing’ and cut costs
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Only four forecourts in Bristol are selling petrol for a fair price, according to the RAC.

While wholesale fuel costs have dropped over the last six weeks, the RAC claims that only a small number of retailers have cut their prices to accurately reflect this.

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The motoring organisation has urged petrol stations to ‘do the right thing’ and help drivers struggling with the cost of living crisis.

The RAC has estimated a fair price for petrol, which is 174p per litre, while diesel should be around 189p per litre.

That factors in the wholesale cost to retailers, a 7p per litre margin and VAT.

But only four forecourts in Bristol are selling petrol for this price, as of August 2.

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Costco Bristol in Avonmouth is selling Unleaded for 164.9p per litre. While this seems like a good deal, a Costco membership is required to buy fuel there.

The petrol station at Costco Bristol in Avonmouth offers the fairest deal on both Unleaded and Diesel across the city, but is members only.The petrol station at Costco Bristol in Avonmouth offers the fairest deal on both Unleaded and Diesel across the city, but is members only.
The petrol station at Costco Bristol in Avonmouth offers the fairest deal on both Unleaded and Diesel across the city, but is members only.

Tesco Extra in Eastville is selling Unleaded for just under the ‘fair price’ at 173.9p per litre, along with Sainsbury’s Castle Court and Sainsbury’s St George.

On average in the UK, a litre of petrol currently costs around 185p per litre, while diesel is close to 194p, according to analysts Experian Catalist.

Costo Bristol is also the most inexpensive option for diesel in the city, at 175.9p per litre. There’s a big jump to the next cheapest forecourt, which is Sainsbury’s at Winterstoke Road, where a litre of diesel costs 185.9p.

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A recent RAC survey, which sampled more than 4,500 UK forecourts, found that only 157 petrol stations are selling a litre of petrol at between 170.9p and 179.9p, while 250 are retailing diesel at a price of between 180p and 189.9p.

The other 90 per cent are charging more than 180p for petrol, and almost 1,000 are charging in excess of 190p for unleaded.

Traditionally, supermarkets have had the cheapest pump prices, however, the RAC survey found that independently owned sites are currently leading the way with low prices.

Of the 157 forecourts selling Unleaded at less than 180p, 125 are independents, 28 are major supermarket sites, and four are owned by oil companies. Similarly, 192 of those selling diesel at less than 190p are independently owned, with just 43 being run by major supermarkets and 15 being owned by oil companies.

The petrol station at Sainsbury’s in Castle Court is one of only four across Bristol offering Unleaded fuel at a ‘fair’ price.The petrol station at Sainsbury’s in Castle Court is one of only four across Bristol offering Unleaded fuel at a ‘fair’ price.
The petrol station at Sainsbury’s in Castle Court is one of only four across Bristol offering Unleaded fuel at a ‘fair’ price.
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RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “In this most expensive of summers, drivers need all the help they can get to keep their spending down so we applaud those retailers who are doing the right thing for their customers and charging a fair price for petrol and diesel, more in line with the lower wholesale costs.

“Weekly wholesale petrol prices – that’s the price retailers pay to buy the fuel – have fallen by a massive 17p a litre, from a weekly average of around 152p at the start of June to just 135p. Yet average pump prices have reduced by a paltry 4p. It’s time for every retailer to do the right thing and cut their prices to more reasonable levels.”

Earlier this month, the AA estimated that petrol prices could fall by 20p per litre within 2 weeks, if retailers continued to pass on reductions in the wholesale cost of fuel. However, spokesperson Luke Bosdet said: “In many places, the price cuts are quite simply not happening [..].”

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