Pump prices at forecourts operating under major oil brands have soared as Rachel Reeves warns retailers against exploiting the Middle East crisis to drive up fuel prices.
According to prices reported through the government’s new Fuel Finder scheme, a BP-branded service station in Exeter had the most expensive petrol and diesel in the UK yesterday (10 March). Prices reached 176.9ppl and 190.9ppl respectively.
The average UK pump price for petrol was 139.2ppl, while diesel sat at 156.1ppl. This meant refuelling at the Exeter service centre cost 27.1% more than the national average for a petrol vehicle, and 22.3% more for diesel.
The site is independently run by motorway services operator Moto Hospitality. Around 900 of the 1,200 BP-branded sites in the UK are run by independent dealers, who set their own pump prices.
A Moto spokesman said: “Fuel prices across the UK are currently experiencing significant volatility as global energy markets respond to the escalating conflict in the Middle East. The disruption and uncertainty in international oil supply has already led to sharp movements in wholesale fuel costs, which inevitably affects pump prices across the sector.
“We recognise the focus on fuel pricing across the sector and remain transparent in sharing our fuel pricing data through Fuel Finder and across Moto’s website and app. We are reviewing pricing on a daily basis and responding accordingly.”
BP tops the charts among major oil brands for average petrol prices, at 142.3ppl. Shell recorded the second most expensive petrol prices for oil company branded forecourts (141.6ppl), followed by Texaco (138.8ppl).
Shell was dearest for diesel, with an average of 160.6ppl, followed by BP (159.8ppl) then Texaco (156.6ppl).
Costco was the cheapest forecourt operator on average, with petrol and diesel priced at 128.2ppl and 140.2ppl respectively.
The Spar Fairfield forecourt in Lincolnshire had the cheapest pump price for diesel across the UK, at 121.6p per litre.
The data also revealed that pump prices at every supermarket-branded forecourt was lower than the average petrol and diesel price. Asda is the cheapest for petrol, with its 392 forecourts charging an average of 135.2ppl, and Co-op and Tesco the cheapest for diesel.
The figures come as the forecourt sector has faced volatile wholesale costs since the start of the Iran conflict, which has gradually pushed up pump prices.
The average price of petrol has risen by 6.4p from 132.8ppl to 139.2ppl from 28 February, when the war began.
Diesel rose by 13.9p, from 142.2ppl to 156.1ppl, according to Fuel Finder UK, which tracks all prices reported through the government’s Fuel Finder scheme.
Speaking in the House of Commons this week, Reeves said she had asked the Competition & Markets Authority to be “vigilant” over essential costs including road fuel and heating oil, and warned forecourt retailers against exploiting the Middle East crisis to drive up fuel prices.
“I will not tolerate any company exploiting the current crisis to make excess profits at consumers’ expense,” she said.
She said she was also pressing ahead with plans to increase pump price transparency and competition across the forecourt sector under the Fuel Finder scheme, which officially launched last month.
With almost 90% of retailers now registered, the scheme requires retailers to report fuel price changes within 30 minutes. Those who fail to submit accurate data could be subject to fines.
While the CMA said earlier this year that until May 2026 its focus would be on supporting businesses to comply with the new regime, rather than enforcement action, Reeves said she was meeting with petrol forecourt operators this week and would “not hesitate to call out retailers who fail to provide data to Fuel Finder”.
The war against Iran has practically closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world’s daily oil and liquefied natural gas supply passes. The price of crude oil peaked at almost $120 a barrel on 9 March, the highest level since 2022.
The RAC has been tracking how that translates into fuel prices. “Drivers are continuing to feel the financial impact of the current conflict, with the average cost of unleaded up another penny in the last 24 hours to 139p a litre,” head of policy Simon Williams said.
“But it’s those that depend on diesel who are really bearing the brunt, with the fuel up another 2p to 155.1p. Diesel has now increased by nearly 13p, or 9%, since 28 February, and is at its highest price since May 2024.
“If oil were to settle at around the $90 a barrel mark and the pound were to maintain its current position against the US dollar, drivers in the UK could expect average petrol prices to reach around 140p a litre, and diesel around 167p a litre.
“We urge drivers to shop around and make use of free apps such as MyRAC to ensure they never pay any more for fuel than they need to.”
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