Shell tops ranking of most expensive fuel station brands

Shell fuel stations are typically the most expensive in the UK, new figures show.

The British oil and gas company’s branded UK forecourts charged an average of 142.6p per litre for petrol and 151.2p per litre for diesel on Thursday, according to analysis by motoring research charity the RAC Foundation.

That is more than all other major retailers.

Supermarket-branded fuel remains the cheapest despite savings compared with that sold by other companies narrowing in recent years.

Morrisons was found to have the lowest price for fuel, with its forecourts charging an average of 136.9p per litre for petrol and 145.5p per litre for diesel.

The figures suggest filling a 55-litre family petrol car is typically £3.14 cheaper at Morrisons compared with Shell.

RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding told the PA news agency: “While this data shows that on average supermarket-branded fuel is most keenly priced, as might be expected, motorists would still be best advised to shop around because the data also shows that prices are influenced by local competition.

“The transparency this data provides will give both motorists and ministers a better picture of the petrol and diesel market.

“Topping this price league table should give retailers cause for concern.”

Shell was approached for a comment.

The company’s website states that prices vary between forecourts “for a number of reasons” such as the cost of buying and transporting the fuel, and operating each site.

It adds: “Shell is only legally able to control prices at company-owned sites, which constitute approximately half of the Shell-branded network in the UK.

“The other half of Shell branded service stations are owned by independent dealers who set their own prices.”

The RAC Foundation’s figures are based on data voluntarily submitted by retailers to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

Filling stations at motorway service areas and brands reporting prices for fewer than 50 sites were excluded.

TDR Capital, the private equity group which co-owns Asda with billionaire brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa, told MPs on Monday the grocery giant does not intend to increase profits on fuel prices.

Government figures show the average price of a litre of petrol on Monday was at its lowest level since October 2021, at 139.7p.

This has been attributed to a fall in oil prices.

Legislation to give the CMA new powers to act as the UK’s fuel price watchdog is going through Parliament as is expected to come into force this year.

The regulator will have more ability to gather information to provide regular public updates on the state of competition in the UK fuel market, and will report evidence of unjustified price increases.

The Government also intends to make the voluntary fuel price reporting programme mandatory.

Here is a ranking of fuel retailers in terms of the average price for a litre of petrol, according to the RAC Foundation:

1. Shell 142.6p
2. BP 140.8p
3. Esso 139.5p
4. Texaco 138.7p
5. Applegreen 138.0p
6. Jet 137.9p
7. Tesco 137.4p
8. Sainsbury’s 137.3p
9. Asda 137.2p
10. Morrisons 136.9p