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we have made the change we are selling one of our 2 cars cos of this 
Dire warning that fuel prices are set to rise even more
May 1 2008 By Tom Hamilton
IF you think the cost of fuel is high now, buckle your seatbelt - the ride is about to get even more bumpy.
The age of the £5 gallon of petrol has arrived, with the average motorist paying £61 to fill the tank.
And it's about to get much worse.
By the end of the summer, drivers could be paying £1.50 a litre - that's £6.81 for a gallon.
The average cost of filling a tank will be £84 - a rise of 37 per cent on current prices.
Fuel costs have already risen 25 per cent since last year, when it cost £49 to fill a tank, and are now 153 per cent higher than in 1988.
By next autumn, fuel costs will be 71 per cent higher than last year.
And that means some drivers will be forced to give up their cars as Brits juggle price rises on all fronts.
The latest shock prediction comes from online price comparison experts at uSwitch.com.
Their consumer policy director, Ann Robinson, said: "Unfortunately, the outlook for drivers is bleak.
"Petrol prices are predicted to increase a further 37 per cent by next year but have already rocketed since 1988 when fuel was just 34.7p a litre.
"As a direct result, it would be no surprise to see more motorists leaving their car at home and using other methods of transport.
"However, drivers who are reliant on their cars for business or live in remote areas will be hardest hit - for them, leaving the car at home is not an option."
Calls are growing for politicians to take action to bring prices down.
Brendan McLoughlin, managing director of PetrolPrices.com, said: "It's up to the government to put pressure on OPEC to increase production so that prices fall.
"We predicted in February that petrol would hit £1.50 a litre this year. But if these conditions continue, and the Government don't work harder to stem rising prices, we're likely to hit it by September.
"That would be a disaster for the country, so motorists need to voice their concerns and make sure action is taken.
"In the meantime, drivers should avoid the most expensive stations by using our comparison service."
Petrol now costs 110.22p a litre, with diesel coming in at 120.51p.
This time last year, petrol was 93.98p and diesel 95.81p on average.
A two-car family now pay £34.80 more per month on petrol than a year ago and the UK is spending £10.8million extra a day on petrol.
By the time petrol hits £1.50 a litre, the annual UK bill will be £81billion - with the Chancellor getting £51billion.
When that time comes, average annual petrol bills will be £2637 - 14 per cent of the average take home pay of £19,167. The past weeks have seen a series of record oil prices. Crude oil neared $120 a barrel on Monday, the second day of the Grangemouth oil refinery strike.
Fears over a US recession and general supply concerns have been blamed for the run of rising prices.
Ms Robinson said fuel efficiency and green credentials should be "high on a motorist's agenda when buying a new car" to avoid an expensive shock.
But AA president Edmund King said price shocks were inevitable.
He said: "The £5 gallon is just the latest milestone on a miserable road of increasing fuel prices this year.
"With the bank holiday and summer motoring looming, many drivers who get by on a tank of fuel for a couple of weeks will suffer a reality check when they have to fill up."
TOP TIPS FOR FUEL EFFICIENCY
USE your gears wisely - driving in the highest one possible without labouring the engine is fuel-efficient . DRIVE smoothly and think ahead. By applying light throttle and avoiding heavy braking, you can reduce consumption. Try to predict traffic at junctions and when queuing avoid accelerating and then braking. DRIVING techniques can influence car fuel efficiency by up to 30 per cent. CHECK your tyre pressures. An underinflated tyre decreases fuel efficiency. LEAVE the car at home - take a bus or train.
If a litre of petrol cost 107.9p, it would be split as shown Duty 50.35p Product 32.60p Vat 16.07p Retailer/delivery 8.88p
Dire warning that fuel prices are set to rise even more
May 1 2008 By Tom Hamilton
IF you think the cost of fuel is high now, buckle your seatbelt - the ride is about to get even more bumpy.
The age of the £5 gallon of petrol has arrived, with the average motorist paying £61 to fill the tank.
And it's about to get much worse.
By the end of the summer, drivers could be paying £1.50 a litre - that's £6.81 for a gallon.
The average cost of filling a tank will be £84 - a rise of 37 per cent on current prices.
Fuel costs have already risen 25 per cent since last year, when it cost £49 to fill a tank, and are now 153 per cent higher than in 1988.
By next autumn, fuel costs will be 71 per cent higher than last year.
And that means some drivers will be forced to give up their cars as Brits juggle price rises on all fronts.
The latest shock prediction comes from online price comparison experts at uSwitch.com.
Their consumer policy director, Ann Robinson, said: "Unfortunately, the outlook for drivers is bleak.
"Petrol prices are predicted to increase a further 37 per cent by next year but have already rocketed since 1988 when fuel was just 34.7p a litre.
"As a direct result, it would be no surprise to see more motorists leaving their car at home and using other methods of transport.
"However, drivers who are reliant on their cars for business or live in remote areas will be hardest hit - for them, leaving the car at home is not an option."
Calls are growing for politicians to take action to bring prices down.
Brendan McLoughlin, managing director of PetrolPrices.com, said: "It's up to the government to put pressure on OPEC to increase production so that prices fall.
"We predicted in February that petrol would hit £1.50 a litre this year. But if these conditions continue, and the Government don't work harder to stem rising prices, we're likely to hit it by September.
"That would be a disaster for the country, so motorists need to voice their concerns and make sure action is taken.
"In the meantime, drivers should avoid the most expensive stations by using our comparison service."
Petrol now costs 110.22p a litre, with diesel coming in at 120.51p.
This time last year, petrol was 93.98p and diesel 95.81p on average.
A two-car family now pay £34.80 more per month on petrol than a year ago and the UK is spending £10.8million extra a day on petrol.
By the time petrol hits £1.50 a litre, the annual UK bill will be £81billion - with the Chancellor getting £51billion.
When that time comes, average annual petrol bills will be £2637 - 14 per cent of the average take home pay of £19,167. The past weeks have seen a series of record oil prices. Crude oil neared $120 a barrel on Monday, the second day of the Grangemouth oil refinery strike.
Fears over a US recession and general supply concerns have been blamed for the run of rising prices.
Ms Robinson said fuel efficiency and green credentials should be "high on a motorist's agenda when buying a new car" to avoid an expensive shock.
But AA president Edmund King said price shocks were inevitable.
He said: "The £5 gallon is just the latest milestone on a miserable road of increasing fuel prices this year.
"With the bank holiday and summer motoring looming, many drivers who get by on a tank of fuel for a couple of weeks will suffer a reality check when they have to fill up."
TOP TIPS FOR FUEL EFFICIENCY
USE your gears wisely - driving in the highest one possible without labouring the engine is fuel-efficient . DRIVE smoothly and think ahead. By applying light throttle and avoiding heavy braking, you can reduce consumption. Try to predict traffic at junctions and when queuing avoid accelerating and then braking. DRIVING techniques can influence car fuel efficiency by up to 30 per cent. CHECK your tyre pressures. An underinflated tyre decreases fuel efficiency. LEAVE the car at home - take a bus or train.
If a litre of petrol cost 107.9p, it would be split as shown Duty 50.35p Product 32.60p Vat 16.07p Retailer/delivery 8.88p
paul
.
I drive hgv's and in 2000 we proved we could bring the country to a standstill in 4 days by blocking the fuel depots. Unfotunately doing this upsets and disrupts everyone but i think this is the only way they'll listen.
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