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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Tim Hanlon

Fuel prices are so high the AA is urging drivers to walk to save money

Drivers have been urged to "cut out shorter journeys" by car and "walk or cycle to save money" by the AA as fuel prices continue to spiral.

The average price of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts reached a new record of 183.2p last Thursday, according to data firm Experian, which is an increase of 7.3p in just seven days.

It means the average cost of filling a typical 55-litre family car exceeded £100 for the first time on Wednesday.

And the average price of a litre of diesel on Thursday was also a record, at 188.8p.

Analysis by the AA indicated that high streets are losing £23 million a day in potential consumer spending due to the rising amount of money private motorists are spending on fuel.

The AA is urging people to cut out shorter journey's where possible (Getty Images)

AA president Edmund King said: "High streets are already reeling from families cutting back in this cost-of-living crisis.

"With soaring petrol costs, shop tills are haemorrhaging £23 million a day to fuel. Worse still, as the holiday season approaches, UK tourism will see millions of pounds of potential spending by visitors lost to higher petrol costs at forecourts along the way.

"This is the worst week of pump pain so far for drivers. We would urge drivers at the moment to cut out shorter car journeys if they are able to do so, and walk or cycle to save money.

"Almost one fifth of AA members are already doing this. But by changing your driving style you can also save up to 15% on fuel costs.

AA analysis indicates high streets are losing £23 million a day in potential consumer spending due to the amount motorists are spending on fuel (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Prices at UK pumps are hitting record highs (Getty Images)

"These crippling fuel costs are hitting home so drivers need to take all the steps they can to stay mobile."

Meanwhile, RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said it is "becoming clearer by the day that the Government must take further action to reduce the enormous financial burden on drivers".

He accused the Government of being "fixated on ensuring retailers are passing on March's 5p duty cut fully", claiming this is "ignoring the fact that wholesale costs of fuel have absolutely rocketed since then".

Mr Williams added: "A temporary cut in VAT on fuel, or a deeper duty cut, are surely what is needed now."

Asked about the issue, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "We made a cut already... the biggest cut ever in fuel duty.

"What I want to see is those cuts in taxation not just swallowed up in one gulp, without touching the gullet of the fuel companies, I want to see those cuts having an impact on the pumps.

"And we are watching very closely to see what happens."

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