Fuel prices in the Derbyshire area continue to rise as a result of the current conflict happening in the Middle East.
Motorists travelling across the county will have noticed a considerable increase in how much it’s costing them to fill their tanks up.
AA President Edmund King has warned drivers to avoid “non-essential journeys” as prices continue to soar.
The prices of oil play a big part in how much petrol costs, with prices rising to over 100 dollars a barrel for the first time since 2022.
Since the war began in Iran on the 28th February, the average price per litre of petrol has risen to 142p, a rise of around 10p, according to the RAC.
Diesel prices have increased even more, with the RAC reporting a 15p rise to 157p.
For many motorists, the heavy increase in prices is making it difficult to be able to get where they need to go.
One motorist told me, “It’s frustrating. We’ve had no part in what’s happening in the Middle East and yet we’re paying the price for it.
“I fear this could be a repeat of what happened in 2021, where we were paying over £2 per litre.
“The current prices are making it difficult for me to be able to commute to work, let alone get anywhere else.”
I spoke to one taxi driver who told me that his profits are down 10% as a result of this increase.
He said: “The rise in diesel costs is making life very difficult for me. It’s the knock-on effect, the fuel goes up, but the fares don’t.
“It means that we have to absorb the difference in prices essentially.
“If the prices keep rising as they are, it’s going to get to a point where taxi driving will no longer be viable.”
The Strait of Hormuz, which would normally have around one-fifth of the world’s oil passing through, has been effectively closed since the start of the conflict in the region.
This has caused the price of oil to increase, resulting in an increased price to produce petrol and diesel.
