..makes me so fooking mad

Petrol firms accused of 'profiteering' while oil prices fall 40%

Petrol prices are increasing despite massive drops in the price of oil, it has been reported. It is understood that some petrol stations are asking 2p a litre more for unleaded – or nearly 10p a gallon – over the last few days. This means motorists are paying £1 more every time they fill up.

Meanwhile wholesale oil prices have dropped nearly 40% since July and the wholesale cost of diesel and petrol is down 30%. The revelations have led to accusations of profiteering and motoring groups are demanding forecourts drop their prices.

AA spokesman Luke Bosdet said: 'These dramatic falls should be filtering their way to the pumps by now. Instead, garages are putting on 1p and 2p a litre to screw a bit of extra cash before the inevitable drop.

'It looks as if garages are trying to squeeze a penny or 2p a litre extra out of motorists before prices do drop. It smacks of profiteering. It really is outrageous that pump prices should be rising when oil is plummeting.'

This week alone the wholesale cost of petrol has dropped 10% but the AA has revealed that the average price of petrol rose from 112.88p to 112.91p a litre - with some petrol stations charging a lot more.

Ray Holloway of the Petrol Retailers' Association, which represents 6,100 of the 9,200 filling stations, said the irregularities were down to currency fluctuations. He added: 'Oil is traded in U.S. dollars and the British pound has fallen in value against the dollar, which is making the cost of fuel to UK customers more expensive.

'Without this currency difference, petrol and diesel would be up to 5p a litre cheaper in Britain.'

Again, where are the government watchdogs and the government themselves in all of this? Who is protecting our statutory rights against the oil companies? It's totally f*cked. Check the prices of fuel in places like France, etc. It's dropped in line.

Guys, have you checked the prices at the likes of Tesco, Morissons and Sainsbury's

They have in fact dropped by 3p per litre on unleaded, now showing as 106.9p

Whilst the likes of Shell 109.9p and BP 112.9p haven't even tried to match it yet

In 2003, when prices started rising, it was 75p per litre. I don't know about inflation, but realistically, it should be well within 87p - 93p? Greedy twunts.

at tesco they are still doing the 5p off a litre when u spend £50 or more in store. at the minute here it is 106.9 i think, so just over a quid a litre