Price of a litre of petrol rose by fastest rate for two decades in May - RAC

Petrol went up by 6p a litre in May
Petrol went up by 6p a litre in May Credit: Yui Mok/ PA

Petrol pump prices rose at the fastest rate for nearly two decades last month.

Motorists suffered the worst monthly rise in the average price of petrol in at least 18 years with 6p a litre being added at the pumps in May, the RAC says today.

Unleaded shot up from 123.43p to 129.41p, taking the cost of filling up a 55-litre family car to £71.18 – an increase of £3.29 in just one month.

While the average price of a litre of diesel endured a slightly greater monthly increase of 6.12p – from 126.27p to 132.39p – the steepest diesel rise for 10 years.

Simon Williams, the RAC’s fuel spokesman, said: “May was a hellish month for motorists.

“Sadly, they have been besieged by pump price rises for three...

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