Supermarket giants Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda have announced they are cutting petrol prices, but motorists hoping for a 5p reduction following a fall in wholesale prices will be disappointed.
Two weeks ago motoring group the AA said drivers could expect prices to fall by 5p from their record highs to reflect a fall in the wholesale cost to retailers. However, the average cost of a price of unleaded petrol has dropped by far less, from 142.48p on 19 April to 141.10p.
But there is a chance further cuts could be on the way, after three of the UK's biggest supermarkets announced reductions of up to 2p a litre. Tesco's cut comes into affect immediately, while Sainsbury's and Asda will cut prices on Friday 4 May. Sainsbury's said the cut would apply to petrol sold at "many of our stores".
Sainsbury's and Tesco do not publish an average or maximum price, saying it prices locally, but Asda said shoppers filling up at its 195 forecourts around the country would pay no more than 136.7p a litre for unleaded and 141.7p a litre for diesel.
This is the second cut Tesco and Asda have made in three weeks – both reduced their prices by the same amount on 20 April – but prices have only returned to levels seen in early April.
Andy Peake, Asda's director of petrol trading, said: "Unlike other retailers, our price cuts benefit everyone across the country, meaning no one filling up at Asda will be forced to pay a premium for their fuel."
Asda has a track record in dragging down prices in areas around its garages, sometimes leading to anomalies in prices between towns that have an Asda petrol station and those that do not. In Newbury, for example, where there is no Asda garage, motorists can pay 4p a litre more than those in nearby Reading where there is one.
Recent price rises have made people think twice about making long journeys by car, with 30% of people saying they have or may be forced to give up family commitments as a result of the cost of driving, according to research by the RAC.
It said the steep rise in prices meant a football fan travelling from Liverpool to London for the FA Cup final would pay around £78 to fill their car, as opposed to the £53 it cost Everton fans in 2009.
David Bizley, RAC technical director, said: "The soaring cost of fuel and the impact it's having on ordinary families is unsustainable. Days out, school runs, shopping trips and even the daily commute are under threat because of the cost of getting in the car and turning on the ignition."
