Consumer Council Helps Consumers Become Fuel Price Aware
Friday 26 June 2009
The Consumer Council is helping consumers find the best deals for petrol and diesel with the launch of its new online fuel survey. The survey shows the cheapest, dearest and average price of fuel from a sample of supermarkets and independent retailers across Northern Ireland[1]. It has been developed as a result of petrol and diesel prices steadily increasing since the beginning of the year[2].
Olga McGonagle from the Consumer Council shows how the fuel survey can help you make savings.
Aodhan O’Donnell, Head of Transport at the Consumer Council said, “Compared to January 2009, the cost to fill a tank with petrol and diesel has significantly increased. It now costs £7.91 more to fill a family car with petrol and £2.37 more for diesel[3]. Given the economic times we’re in, we feel it is essential to provide consumers with the information they need to decide whether or not they are getting a good deal. We are delighted to launch our online survey which will help consumers find what they could be paying for fuel in their local area and see how it compares to other towns in Northern Ireland.
“This week the Consumer Council’s survey[4] shows that if consumers shop around they could save up to £5 to fill their car with petrol and £4.55 for diesel[5]. Buying petrol or diesel is an essential spend for many people who rely on their cars to get around. But the visit to the pumps can be a big burden on people’s already overstretched pockets, particularly with fuel costs creeping up again in recent months. We have been monitoring fuel prices since last summer and we are pleased that our online survey will help people be more price aware and see how they can make savings by shopping around.”
Visit www.consumercouncil.org.uk/cost-of-living-consumer-tips/fuel-price-watch/ to check out the Consumer Council’s fuel survey.
Notes to editors
Review of Prices
12 months – June 2008 to June 2009
| Petrol (ppl) | Diesel (ppl) | Oil ($) | Oil (£) | |
| June 08 | 118.1 | 131.5 | 139 | 70.69 |
| June 09 | 102.12 | 103.23 | 69.30 | 42.19 |
| Totals | - 15.98 | - 28.27 | -$69.70 | -£28.50 |
From last years peak, Crude Oil has dropped by 50.1% in dollars (40.3% in £).
Petrol price has dropped 15.98ppl or 13.5%
Diesel price has dropped 28.27ppl or 21.5%
6 months – January 2009 to June 2009
| Petrol (ppl) | Diesel (ppl) | Oil ($) | Oil (£) | |
| Jan 09 | 86.3 | 98.49 | 44.90 | 30.77 |
| June 09 | 102.12 | 103.23 | 69.30 | 42.19 |
| Totals | +15.82ppl | +4.74ppl | +$24.40 | +£11.42 |
In last six months Crude Oil has increased by 54.3% in dollars (37.1% in £).
Petrol price has increased 15.82ppl or 18.3%
Diesel price has increased 4.74ppl or 4.81%
1 month – 18 May to 22 June 2009
| Petrol (ppl) | Diesel (ppl) | Oil ($) | Oil (£) | |
| 18 May 09 | 97.3 | 102.1 | 59.08 | 38.08 |
| June 09 | 103.34 | 104.18 | 68.50 | 41.47 |
| Totals | +6.04ppl | +2.08ppl | +$9.42 | +£3.39 |
In the last month Crude Oil has increased by 15.9% in dollars (8.9% in £).
Petrol price has increased 6.04ppl or 6.2%
Diesel price has increased 2.08ppl or 2.0%
- Consumer Council media contact: Paula Gunn, telephone, 028 9067 4816 or e-mail, pgunn@consumercouncil.org.uk
- The Consumer Council is an independent consumer organisation, working to bring about change to benefit Northern Ireland’s consumers. The Council campaigns for high standards of service and protection and a fair deal for all. It also carries out research, gives advice and publishes reports and other publications. It deals with individual complaints about buses, trains, planes, ferries, natural gas, electricity, coal and water.
For more information, visit our website at www.consumercouncil.org.uk
[1] Sample made up of 28 supermarkets and 49 independent retailers.
[2]Since January 2009 petrol has increased by on average 15.82ppl whilst diesel has increased by on average 4.74ppl.
[3] In January 2009 it cost £43.15 to fill with petrol and £49.24 to fill with diesel. In June 2009 it cost £51.06 to fill with petrol and £51.61 for diesel (Based on filling a 50 litre tank).
[4] Figures taken from the Consumer Council’s online fuel survey - 22 June 2009.
[5] This week consumers could save 10 pence per litre on the cost of petrol and 9.1 pence per litre on the cost of diesel by shopping around.
