According to fresh figures released by the AA, Wales remains among the cheapest places in the United Kingdom for fuel.
The latest figures show only a slight reduction in diesel prices at filling stations, despite considerably larger drops in wholesale costs. Motorists throughout the UK have benefited from just one penny per litre despite a ten pence per litre fall in wholesale prices, with Northern Ireland the only place where this did not apply.
On April 26, Welsh petrol averages dropped from 158.1p to 157.3p per litre, while diesel averages shifted from 191.1p to 189.9p per litre.
Luke Bosdet, the AA’s fuel pricing spokesperson, explained that diesel serves as the primary fuel for transportation, commercial deliveries, businesses, and many rural communities. He noted that delivery charge calculations frequently depend on average fuel station prices, making it essential to reduce diesel costs at pumps quickly.
Northern Ireland saw a sharper decline, with diesel falling 3.7p to 183.5p per litre and petrol dropping 1.2p to 151.9p per litre.
Supermarkets in Northern Ireland have cut diesel pump prices by roughly four pence per litre, whereas other parts of the UK have managed to pass on only about one penny per litre to customers.
The UK Government’s Fuel Finder programme’s fuel price reporting requirements come into effect on Friday. This system allows shoppers to highlight pricing anomalies, encouraging openness and regulatory compliance. Serious breaches will be referred to the Competition and Markets Authority.