A huge 10p per litre price difference in petrol prices between two Elgin supermarkets barely a mile apart has shown the importance of shopping around for fuel.
Pump prices are currently falling across the UK after hitting a peak in early July.
The cost of unleaded topped 190p per litre in some places but is now falling fast – with some places now below 170p per litre.
And the huge price variance between the Asda and Tesco supermarkets in Elgin, which are less than a mile apart, show the importance of shopping around.
The 10p per litre difference in the price of unleaded can add up to as much as £6 every time you fill up the average fuel tank.
It is understood prices within small areas can currently vary massively due to prices dropping quickly and retailers setting the cost depending on when they bought the fuel.
Asda in Elgin is currently selling unleaded for 171.7p per litre of unleaded while the price at Tesco is 181.9p.
Meanwhile, there is also a huge difference between Tesco supermarkets in the north with the store’s branch at the Inverness Retail Park on the A96 Aberdeen road selling unleaded for 170.9p per litre.
And the Sainsbury’s store in Nairn selling unleaded for 181.9p and the town’s Gulf selling it for 184.9p.
The RAC says “local retail dynamics” can play a part in huge differences between petrol stations that may only be only a few miles apart.
What about diesel?
The RAC reports that the national price of diesel is not falling as quickly as unleaded.
While the UK average price of unleaded has dropped by about 10p per litre to 182p since its peak in early July, diesel has not fallen by as much.
The current average price of diesel is 197p per litre, down only 2p from its peak in early July.
However, the wholesale price has dropped by 5p during that time and is continuing to fall – indicating prices will continue to drop.
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