UK motorists must now...

UK motorists must now shell out 100.08p, according to data gathered from 8,000 forecourts. This time last year, the cost was only 86.11p a litre. Diesel prices have also risen sharply, to an all-time high of 103.32p.

One reason for the soaring figures was October’s 2p rise in fuel duty. But it’s the spiralling cost of crude oil, driven by the weak dollar and tensions in the Middle East, which has finally pushed the price past ÷£1.

According to information gathered by industry researcher Catalist, petrol is most expensive in East Anglia, and cheapest in Scot÷­land (see map, right, for average price by region).

Catalist’s Arthur Renshaw told Auto Express, “It’s dependent on the level of competition in the area and the proximity of oil depots. Prices are low÷­est in Scotland because the Grange÷­mouth refinery is nearby, while the North West is served by Stanlow.”

So, where does your hard-earned money go when you buy a litre of unleaded? Around 14.9p is absorbed by VAT, 50.4p goes towards fuel duty and 30.78p is taken up by production and delivery. The retailer gets only 4p.

But it’s going to take a phenomenal hike to convince British motorists to ditch their cars. As we revealed in Issue 986, a survey by cover provider esure found most drivers wouldn’t do so until fuel hit ÷£1.83 a litre. Until then, motorists can save as much money as possible by filling up at supermarkets; their petrol is cheapest, while independent outlets sell the most expensive.