SPIRALLING fuel prices have caused pain for haulage companies around the UK.
:: The average cost of a litre of petrol is now around 119p with diesel at 132p. Petrol is up 22.6 per cent on this time last year when a litre was just under 97p. Diesel is up 36 per cent on last year when a litre was just over 97p.
:: June saw record increases in price, with a litre of petrol up 5.6p and a litre of diesel up 11.6p.
:: The extra cost of 50-litre tank for petrol compared to last year is £10.98 and for diesel it is £17.47, while the extra monthly petrol cost for a two-car family is estimated at £47.05.
:: The extra daily UK spend on petrol compared to last year is £14,567,018.
:: The AA's Luke Bosdet says the increasing differential between diesel and petrol is down to increased demand. "As petrol prices increased, more people turned to diesel to try to cut their costs because of the better fuel efficiency.
"The demand for diesel went up, which increased the cost. Globally there is now an extremely high demand for diesel."
:: Although diesel is still more cost effective than petrol - 15-25 per cent more fuel efficient - Mr Bosdet says the extra cost of a diesel car (about £1,000) means motorists need to clock up 40,000-45,000 miles before they make their money back.
:: Road users pay about 50p a litre of diesel to the Government in fuel duty. In Europe it is only 25p.
:: Fuel represents more than a third of the costs of running a truck.
:: The price of crude oil has soared to more than 142 US dollars a barrel, adding to the pump price.
:: Strong demand from developing countries such as China and India and a weak US dollar have helped to push up oil prices.
:: Oil price has also been affected by international unrest, such as the political tensions between Israel and Iran.
:: News that BP Plc will shut a crude-oil unit at its Dutch refinery in Rotterdam could further push up European wholesale prices for petrol and diesel, as previous refinery problems have this year. Europe's second-largest refinery is set for an unscheduled closure for repairs.
:: In April anger was sparked as BP and Shell announced profits of more than £3 million per hour, while motorists faced average unleaded prices approaching £5 a gallon.
:: The firms themselves say most of the profit comes from the exploration and production side of their business, rather than on petrol station forecourts.
