25/07/2001

Belfast petrol prices are highest in UK

Northern Ireland motorists are currently paying more for their petrol than any other UK city.

In a new report out on Tuesday by fleet and fuel management company ARVAL PHH, figures revealed that local drivers are currently paying an average of 80.2p per litre for unleaded petrol.

While Belfast is the most expensive city, at 79.91p a litre on average, Southend in Essex pay the cheapest prices, at 77.59p a litre on average.

However, when comparing areas rather than towns, the cheapest petrol can be found in Cleveland and Tyne and Wear, in north east England (77p per litre), while the most expensive area is in the north of Scotland, where pump prices are as high as 87.6p per litre.

Martin Hender, director of fuel at ARVAL PHH, said: “Eighty pence a litre is a psychological break-point. There was immense pressure on oil companies to keep the price below that point during the general election to avoid a repeat of last year`s fuel protests. However, the price now is creeping upwards and there has been no relief from the government in terms of a reduced tax burden.”

During June, the average price for unleaded fuel in the UK was 78.91p per litre, with the average price of diesel reaching 77.83p a litre.

(MB)

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