Price of petrol hits record high again

The price of petrol at the pumps has hit a new record high for the second time in a week, figures published today reveal.

The average cost in the Midlands has risen again from last week's record figure of 121.76p a litre to 122.14p.

Prices have gone up 3.06p a litre between mid-November and mid-December 2010, according to figures published by the AA today.

Diesel, which is still some way off its all-time record high of more than 132p, has risen 3.12p a litre over the last four weeks and now costs an average 126.19p.

At Blakenhall Services, on Dudley Road, Wolverhampton, petrol was122.9p today, with diesel at 126.9p.

Texaco on Stafford Road, Wolverhampton, was up to 122.9p for petrol and 127.9 for diesel.

Texaco at Hill Top, Hednesford, was charging 123.9p for petrol.

A litre of petrol at BP on Stubbs Road, Wolverhampton, was up to 124.9p, while diesel was at 127.9p.

Compared with December 2009, the cost of filling a 50-litre petrol tank has increased from £54.26 to £61.07.

A 50-litre tank of diesel has gone up in price from £54.93 to £63.10.

UK petrol car owners are now spending £8 million more on fuel every single day than a year ago.

Nigel Cox, manager of Coseley Transport Services, which has a fleet of five diesel wagons, today hit out at the rises and warned of their impact on hauliers.

"It can drive you mad," he said. "Wherever you go the prices are too high and there are pennies between them.

"We notice every single rise, it hits us very hard. Each rise comes out of profits as we just can't afford to pass it on to customers. If we do they'll go elsewhere.

"The nature of the business, because of the economic situation, is that people are scrapping around for other people's business."

Petrol on England's motorways varies from 121.9p a litre to 129.9p and for diesel from 124.9p to 132.9p.

AA president Edmund King said today the increases were unfair on motorists and urged the Government to reconsider adding duty and VAT on fuel, saying: "This is a bleak mid-winter for millions of drivers.

"Milking motorists through higher fuel prices is over, as many are running dry and biting back, not because they want to but because they have no option.