The RAC has welcomed the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's decision to extend a cut in fuel duty in his 2023 Spring Budget.
On Wednesday, Mr Hunt announced the 5p per litre cut in fuel duty would be retained for another 12 months and will not increase with inflation.
The cut in fuel duty was announced in last year's budget to help reduce the impact of rising fuel prices on motorists.
Mr Hunt said: “Because inflation remains high, I have decided that now is not the right time to uprate fuel duty with inflation or increase the duty, so here is what I’m going to do.
“For a further 12 months I’m going to maintain the 5p cut and I’m going to freeze fuel duty too.”
The Chancellor says the freeze will save the average driver £100 in the next year, on top of the £100 they have saved since the measure was introduced.
If you missed my budget and my plan for how we’re going to grow the economy, here are 11 things from the budget in 60 seconds, start the clock 👀 pic.twitter.com/Ra06Opye24
— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) March 15, 2023
Nicholas Lyes, head of roads policy at the RAC, said: “We welcome the Government’s decision to keep the 5p fuel duty cut in place for another 12 months.
“The cut has given drivers some much-needed relief in what has been the most torrid year ever at the pumps, with price records being broken even after duty was cut.
“Given the importance of driving for consumers and businesses, duty should be kept low to help fight inflation.”
However, the RAC says diesel drivers “effectively aren’t seeing any benefit from the 5p duty cut whatsoever” due to “the pricing tactics of major retailers”.
Average fuel prices across the UK are 147.24p for unleaded, 162.38p for super unleaded and 165.57p for diesel.
Prices reached record highs in July following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with unleaded and diesel prices reaching 191.6p and 199.2p respectively.
Now, we've taken a look at the cheapest places to buy fuel in the Taunton area.
The information below is for unleaded petrol and was listed on petrolprices.com on Monday, March 20.
Where is the cheapest petrol in the Taunton area?
- Texaco, A378 Thornfalcon Garage, Taunton – 142.9p
- Morrisons Garage, Dellers Wharf, Taunton - 143.7p
- Asda Taunton Automat, Creechbarrow Road, Taunton - 143.7p
- Sainsburys Garage, Mansfield Road, Taunton – 143.9p
- Sainsburys Garage, Hankridge Way, Taunton - 143.9p
- Esso Garage, East Reach, Taunton – 145.9p
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