Trump-Iran war pushes diesel prices up again but end of US holidays could lower NI petrol prices, say experts
The Middle East conflict has pushed diesel prices up again but the end of the US holidays could lower petrol prices in NI, experts say.
The average price for diesel is 174.5p per litre, marking a rise of 1.2p compared to last week. Petrol is averaging at 153.4p per litre – the same as last week, according to Consumer Council.
Spokeswoman Michelle Kelly said: “The price of diesel has increased this week reflecting volatility in the global oil market. Fuel prices in the coming weeks will continue to be dependent on events in the Middle East.”
Consumers are currently paying around £11 more to fill a 40-litre tank of unleaded petrol and around £17 more for diesel, compared to February. Any notable fall in prices will only occur following a sustained drop in the wholesale price of oil, she added.
She advises drivers to shop around using www.consumercouncil.org.uk/fuel-price-checker and other price comparison apps.
AA spokesman Luke Bosdet said that the average price of petrol and diesel in NI is at least 6p a litre lower than in the rest of the UK.
“Drivers in Northern Ireland enjoy pump prices that most of the rest of the UK can only dream of," he said.
"Having said that, higher wholesale costs resulting from the impact of the Middle East and Ukraine conflicts on the value of oil have returned pump prices to their highest in more than three and a half years.”
He added: “The end of the US motoring season in September tends to lower gasoline demand and therefore wholesale costs – if UK retailers are prepared to pass on the savings. I am far more confident that that will happen in Northern Ireland.”