Fuel is now 20p a litre more expensive than a year ago

Fuel prices around the UK are now 20p per litre than they were a year ago, despite a pause in soaring costs.

The latest analysis of forecourt charges found that after nine months of increases, the price of petrol and diesel fell fractionally in August but remained substantially higher than during summer 2020.

RAC Fuel Watch data shows that the average price of a litre of unleaded petrol dropped just 0.27p to 135.02p while diesel fell just 0.01p to 136.66p from July to August.

July saw petrol prices reach their highest level since September 2013 and diesel reach heights not seen since 2014, with August’s near-static prices keeping averages among the highest in recent years.

Between June and August, both petrol and diesel have remined are around 20p per litre more expensive than in the same period in 2020. An average tank of unleaded now costs £74.26 - 15p less than at the start of August - with a full tank of diesel costing £75.16.

RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said: “A full nine months of continuous price rises finally came to an end in August, but that’s really no comfort at all to drivers who have been paying considerably more to fill up this summer than last year.