The average price of fuel at UK filling stations rose by less than a penny a litre in December, according to data from the RAC.
The motoring organisation said the average litre of petrol increased in price by 0.36p, to 136.9p, while the average litre of diesel went up by 0.67p, to 142.9p.
Despite these increases, the prices of the fuels are still below the averages for 2024, which were 142p and 148.7p respectively.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “Even though fuel prices have crept up slightly over the last three months, 2024 was a better year at the pumps, with prices coming down by 14p for petrol and 16p for diesel from the high points seen at the end of April.
“Looking back, it’s quite clear that 2024 was a year of two halves for fuel, with the second proving far better as the lower cost of oil translated to cheaper prices on the forecourt.
“Unfortunately, RAC Fuel Watch data shows average retailer margins are still well above the long-term figures. This is something the Competition and Markets Authority acknowledged in its November interim report, adding that it remains concerned about the lack of competition between retailers.
“As the government has committed to introducing a mandatory fuel price reporting scheme this year, we’re hopeful this will eventually lead to greater competition and fairer prices across the country’s forecourts.”
