[Paul Coleman]

Fuel is going up by 2p a litre tomorrow so if you are near a garage anyway, maybe time for a top up.  I'm close to empty so will fill up later when I go to the supermarket.
OK so it's only a pound difference (2 at most) but I would rather it be in my pocket than the exchequer's.
Maybe I'm just a tight git.

[gmcs]

if it goes up by 2 p that will put deisel at £100.09 in Minehead  and with only two petrol station one being Tesco and the other Esso do you think they will enter a price war Don't think so!

[SparklingWC]

www.petrolprices.com sign up with these. they send you the cheapest 5 petrol stations within a certain radius of you. free and no spam

[Paul Coleman]

if it goes up by 2 p that will put deisel at £100.09 in Minehead  and with only two petrol station one being Tesco and the other Esso do you think they will enter a price war Don't think so!

There's a bit more competition around my way.  We have a Tesco and a Sainsbury's - both with petrol stations plus a load of other stations.  The supermarkets have the same price as each other and both are slightly cheaper than the others.  On top of that you get the equivalent of 1p per £1 spent as a discount provided you buy instore goods.  This is qiven out via the stores' loyalty cards.  i.e. if I spend £70 filling up wqith diesel and get my Nectar card swiped, I get 70p in good from Sainsbury's.  It's not much but it's a bit of free shopping once in a while.

[Spursboy1972]

Well I had an email that really ought to be circulated. It suggests that instead of everyone boycotting fuel stations for one day which lets face it we are all still going to have to use them, lets instead boycott the 2 biggest. These being Esso and BP. Now surely if everyone does this they will be forced to reduce their prices to win back the customers. This then should have a knock on effect. Sounds good in principle but it needs a hell of a lot of people to do it.

[Paul Coleman]

Well I had an email that really ought to be circulated. It suggests that instead of everyone boycotting fuel stations for one day which lets face it we are all still going to have to use them, lets instead boycott the 2 biggest. These being Esso and BP. Now surely if everyone does this they will be forced to reduce their prices to win back the customers. This then should have a knock on effect. Sounds good in principle but it needs a hell of a lot of people to do it.

The trouble is that the increase is being implemented by the government.  They won't care as it won't adversely affect their revenue stream.  The only way they might listen is by action to throttle supply which would have an effect on the whole economy.  Similar action caused the opposition to rate higher than the government temporarily a few years ago.  The fuel companies can't do much about it as the world price of oil is dictating the actual oil price and forecourt margins are already tight.
Throttling supply or lorries barricading the major cities are probably the only things that would prevent this duty increase.

[jeff1]

Fuel Tax
Fuel tax is an imposed sales tax put on the sale of fuel. Frequently, fuel tax is looked upon as a source of general revenue, with some being put towards the maintenance of roads and highways.


Fuel Tax in the UK
Fuel tax in the UK is constantly changing and has risen steadily over the last 15 years. Between 1993 and 1999 there was a rapid increase with duties on fuel increasing by 3% above inflation. This was due to a major change in petrol taxation in 1993 when the Conservatives introduced the Fuel Price 'escalator'. This was a way of the government making money and also to help protect the environment by discouraging people to use their cars.

 

Fuel Escalator Forces Prices Up
This fuel escalator forced prices up from one of the lowest in Europe to now one of the most expensive. When it was first added, fuel prices rose by 3 pence a litre and tax contributed to 72.8% of the total cost. By 1997 the escalator had added 11.1p to the cost of unleaded petrol and was at 75%. It didn't get any better when the conservatives left office and Gordon Brown took over, as the escalator increased and 3 pence was added per litre. This took tax up to an incredible 81.5% of the total price of fuel.


Fuel Tax and the 2000 Fuel Protests
Despite the fuel escalator being abandoned in 1999, fuel prices did continue to rise rapidly, with a 2 pence a litre rise after the 2000 budget, contributing to the fuel protest. These rises were however argued by the government to be as a result of increasing oil costs rather than tax increases. This argument does hold some truth when we look at the graph above, showing that although the overall price of fuel has risen, the percentage of tax has stayed relatively constant and even dropped slightly this year.

In April 2005, tax on petrol and diesel were charged at 47.1pence a litre which with VAT added also, the total taxation makes up a huge 69.9% of the price we paid for unleaded and 67.3% for diesel.

British drivers pay two taxes on petrol they buy at the pump and fuel campaigners complain about the fact that VAT is charged on the cost of fuel and the duty and feel it should only be calculated on the cost of the fuel for a fairer petrol price.

Duty on fuel in the UK increased again in September 2006, with an increase of 1.25pence a litre on unleaded and diesel and an even greater increase on LPG and natural gas. See the fuel duty for all fuels below:


2006 Fuel Tax Figures
2006 fuel duty (as of September 2006) in the United Kingdom is:
48.35 pence per litre for ultra-low sulphur unleaded petrol/diesel
48.35 pence per litre for conventional unleaded petrol
48.35 pence per litre for conventional diesel
28.35 pence per litre for bio-diesel and bio ethanol - low tax to encourage consumer conversion
12.21 pence per kg for gas other than natural gas (LPG)
10.81 pence per kg for natural gas used as road fuel.
7.69 pence per litre for rebated gas oil (red diesel)
7.29 pence per litre for rebated fuel oil


The March 2007 Budget announced that from October 2007 there will be a 2 pence increase in fuel duty rates.

[Paul Coleman]

Take a look at how mutch tax we pay?

It is a high percentage, isn't it?
Although paying such a high amount is wrong, I think the graph would be fairer if it showed it more clearly in percentage terms.  After all, whatever the fuel duty level was pitched at originally, it would be expected to go up with oil prices and general inflation.
It's mind boggling that if I spend £75 on a fill up (quite possible if the tank is low), about £50+ goes straight to the exchequer.  I suppose that if fuel duty were vastly reduced, they would make the shortfall up elsewhere.

[Nathanael Jones]

Anyone else thinking of switching to E85 Biofuel?

[Majestic]

Just been past my local garage , its just like when we had a fuel shortage . Loads of customers waiting to get petrol

[Paul Coleman]

Just been past my local garage , its just like when we had a fuel shortage . Loads of customers waiting to get petrol

I haven't got around to my fill up yet but I'm going out later anyway so I'll do it then.  Apart from the fuel tax increase, it makes sense to fill up today because it's the last day of my accounting year.  By filling up today I get that little bit of tax relief a year earlier.

[Feen]

Anybody thought about passing this onto customers? And I don't mean just this, but generally all our operating costs are going up, like any business. Maybe now is a good time to increase prices, while this fuel increase is fresh in people's minds?

[gmcs]

Don't forget if you are paying minimum wage to your staff that also goes up today

[Joe H]

Just come back from Spain and had a hire car.

Noticed diesel is cheaper then petrol over there

Diesel is around 1 euro per litre which is about 71p per litre - petrol a little more.

and its sunnier too.

Big problem if I was to live there though - not many carpets to clean !!!!!

[windowwashers]

Well I had an email that really ought to be circulated. It suggests that instead of everyone boycotting fuel stations for one day which lets face it we are all still going to have to use them, lets instead boycott the 2 biggest. These being Esso and BP. Now surely if everyone does this they will be forced to reduce their prices to win back the customers. This then should have a knock on effect. Sounds good in principle but it needs a hell of a lot of people to do it.

My Wife had an email from Uni m8, saying instead of boycotting all petrol stations for a couple of days (which they just ride out as they know we all need fuel) just do it to one of the big guns, when they find no person is buying from them they will have to drop price to get people back, when that happens the others will follow suit in principle maybe this will work maybe no what do you all think about it.

[Kentish Poleman]

[Fuel Tax
Fuel tax is an imposed sales tax put on the sale of fuel. Frequently, fuel tax is looked upon as a source of general revenue, with some being put towards the maintenance of roads and highways. Some? Not where I live mate, I drive on roads that would look embarrassed in a Third world country!


Fuel Tax in the UK
Fuel tax in the UK is constantly changing and has risen steadily over the last 15 years. Between 1993 and 1999 there was a rapid increase with duties on fuel increasing by 3% above inflation. This was due to a major change in petrol taxation in 1993 when the Conservatives introduced the Fuel Price 'escalator'. This was a way of the government making money and also to help protect the environment by discouraging people to use their cars.  It was introduced, following Heads of State having a Climate meeting called the Earth Summit, held in Brazil, 1992. As usual, Britain lead the way in levying Taxes, while the other members sat back and watched.



Fuel Escalator Forces Prices Up
This fuel escalator forced prices up from one of the lowest in Europe to now one of the most expensive. When it was first added, fuel prices rose by 3 pence a litre and tax contributed to 72.8% of the total cost. By 1997 the escalator had added 11.1p to the cost of unleaded petrol and was at 75%. It didn't get any better when the conservatives left office and Gordon Brown took over, as the escalator increased and 3 pence was added per litre. This took tax up to an incredible 81.5% of the total price of fuel.
It did indeed force prices up, however the Escalator was scrapped following the the original Fuel blockade some 5 or 6 years ago. /quote]

I dont think the Motorist will change things by boycotting one manufacturer or the other. It is the Government who have made the road fuel the exhorbitant price that it is. And, let's not forget that the Governement, with it's huge social responsibilities sic need all the cash they can take from your pockets. I seem to remember reading very recently the fact that the revenue generated from Speed cameras since their introduction, has made 90 million so far, and counting. Where does all this money go to then?

[Paul Coleman]

Just come back from Spain and had a hire car.

Noticed diesel is cheaper then petrol over there

Diesel is around 1 euro per litre which is about 71p per litre - petrol a little more.

and its sunnier too.

Big problem if I was to live there though - not many carpets to clean !!!!!

Yes it is cheaper but the flipside is that a lot of roads have toll booths.

[Paul Coleman]

[Fuel Tax
Fuel tax is an imposed sales tax put on the sale of fuel. Frequently, fuel tax is looked upon as a source of general revenue, with some being put towards the maintenance of roads and highways. Some? Not where I live mate, I drive on roads that would look embarrassed in a Third world country!


Fuel Tax in the UK
Fuel tax in the UK is constantly changing and has risen steadily over the last 15 years. Between 1993 and 1999 there was a rapid increase with duties on fuel increasing by 3% above inflation. This was due to a major change in petrol taxation in 1993 when the Conservatives introduced the Fuel Price 'escalator'. This was a way of the government making money and also to help protect the environment by discouraging people to use their cars.  It was introduced, following Heads of State having a Climate meeting called the Earth Summit, held in Brazil, 1992. As usual, Britain lead the way in levying Taxes, while the other members sat back and watched.



Fuel Escalator Forces Prices Up
This fuel escalator forced prices up from one of the lowest in Europe to now one of the most expensive. When it was first added, fuel prices rose by 3 pence a litre and tax contributed to 72.8% of the total cost. By 1997 the escalator had added 11.1p to the cost of unleaded petrol and was at 75%. It didn't get any better when the conservatives left office and Gordon Brown took over, as the escalator increased and 3 pence was added per litre. This took tax up to an incredible 81.5% of the total price of fuel.
It did indeed force prices up, however the Escalator was scrapped following the the original Fuel blockade some 5 or 6 years ago. /quote]

I dont think the Motorist will change things by boycotting one manufacturer or the other. It is the Government who have made the road fuel the exhorbitant price that it is. And, let's not forget that the Governement, with it's huge social responsibilities sic need all the cash they can take from your pockets. I seem to remember reading very recently the fact that the revenue generated from Speed cameras since their introduction, has made 90 million so far, and counting. Where does all this money go to then?

I thought it went into buying more GATSO cameras.

[Scrimble]

theres a place just down the road from me which sells bio diesel for 82p litre.

i always use it to fill my van up with

[windowwashers]

[Fuel Tax
Fuel tax is an imposed sales tax put on the sale of fuel. Frequently, fuel tax is looked upon as a source of general revenue, with some being put towards the maintenance of roads and highways. Some? Not where I live mate, I drive on roads that would look embarrassed in a Third world country!


Fuel Tax in the UK
Fuel tax in the UK is constantly changing and has risen steadily over the last 15 years. Between 1993 and 1999 there was a rapid increase with duties on fuel increasing by 3% above inflation. This was due to a major change in petrol taxation in 1993 when the Conservatives introduced the Fuel Price 'escalator'. This was a way of the government making money and also to help protect the environment by discouraging people to use their cars.  It was introduced, following Heads of State having a Climate meeting called the Earth Summit, held in Brazil, 1992. As usual, Britain lead the way in levying Taxes, while the other members sat back and watched.



Fuel Escalator Forces Prices Up
This fuel escalator forced prices up from one of the lowest in Europe to now one of the most expensive. When it was first added, fuel prices rose by 3 pence a litre and tax contributed to 72.8% of the total cost. By 1997 the escalator had added 11.1p to the cost of unleaded petrol and was at 75%. It didn't get any better when the conservatives left office and Gordon Brown took over, as the escalator increased and 3 pence was added per litre. This took tax up to an incredible 81.5% of the total price of fuel.
It did indeed force prices up, however the Escalator was scrapped following the the original Fuel blockade some 5 or 6 years ago. /quote]

I dont think the Motorist will change things by boycotting one manufacturer or the other. It is the Government who have made the road fuel the exhorbitant price that it is. And, let's not forget that the Governement, with it's huge social responsibilities sic need all the cash they can take from your pockets. I seem to remember reading very recently the fact that the revenue generated from Speed cameras since their introduction, has made 90 million so far, and counting. Where does all this money go to then?

I thought it went into buying more GATSO cameras.

nope went on undercover cars, they pulled me 10 mins after i bought new van