Average family forced to spend more on petrol than it does on groceries

British motorists have been hit with a new strain on their budget after the price of petrol at the pumps hit a new high, exceeding the average family’s weekly expenditure on food for the first time.

The new figures reveal the average cost of petrol has soared up to £142.48 per litre while diesel can be bought for £147.88 per litre.

The new prices mean families will have to pay around £71.24 to fill up a 50-litre family car, more than the £70.10 spent on groceries  each week by the average household with two children.

The AA, said petrol had risen £10.23 per litre and diesel £7.32 per litre since the beginning of the year, forcing two-car families to add an extra £21.72 to the monthly petrol cost.

Last month, possible strike fears led to drivers queuing up at the pumps and panic-buying fuel, leading to the increase in petrol prices — the strike never happened.

AA president Edmund King said: “Panic-buying in March forced some cash-strapped families to spend far more on fuel than their budgets could bear. Filling up a 50-litre tank costs more than some families spend on food each week.”

Tanker drivers failed to reach an agreement with their bosses over working conditions, leading to the arrangement of another meeting, which will be held next week. Unite Union and officials from six distribution companies will be in attendance as they try to come to an agreement amidst more fears of strike action.

However, the Union insists that panic-buying is not necessary as no strikes have been set.

A Union representative said: “It is very clear that, at this point, we are not on strike, we have not announced that we are going on strike.”

Despite the lack of strike and falling oil prices on the financial market, petrol prices continue to remain high with Northern Ireland suffering the worst, where the average price of petrol has hit £143.90 per litre with diesel at £148.20 per litre.

Rajeeb Gurung