Petrol Pump Prices - 112.9 to 129.9p per litre!

I live in Sussex UK where you can expect to pay about 120p per litre for petrol. You can get discount vouchers when making purchases in supermarkets.

I'm posting this from Northumberland where they only pay 112.9 per litre at Asda Boldon, no other purchase required.

However we paid 129.9p at a station out in the sticks.

I'm not posting this to find out why or how. It is what it is, where it is as I write. I would like to say why this is so disappointing.

Last month I created A Guide on Small Car Fuel Consumption, CO2 Emissions and Performance. Basically it's all you need to know on one page and includes all small cars for sale in the UK.

Producing this page put me through the pain a punter must suffer when comparing cars. It becomes obvious it's not simply about fuel economy. Dimensions, space, comfort and safety all have to be considered.

My point is a car buyer must spend a lot of time carefully considering their options whilst looking to save on fuel costs only to have it taken away at the pump. In other words, say you buy a car costing £1,100 per 12,000 miles for fuel as opposed to one costing £1,300. You could lose part of that saving if you don't shop around or live near Boldon in Northumberland.

I think there's a bigger picture. We know cars are important to our economy. However the interest in cars has steadily decreased over the past 7-years according to some sources. It seems to me if car buyers' care is punished by pump prices, interest in cars will continue to wane and have a knock-on cost.

All we can do for now is shop around for best prices. It may be in vain because business drivers don't carry the cost or care and will pay any price. Same old story - the man in the street pays.

Regards
Ralph