As the festive season kicks into high gear, a fierce battle over petrol prices is being fought on Britain's forecourts. With millions of families preparing to drive to see loved ones this Christmas, the cost of filling up the car is a major concern. New data has now revealed which supermarket is offering drivers the best deal at the pumps.
Asda Takes the Crown for Cheapest Fuel
According to the latest figures from the RAC Fuel Watch, Asda is currently the cheapest supermarket to buy both petrol and diesel. The retailer is charging customers an average of just 134.0p per litre for petrol. This undercuts its closest rival, Sainsbury's, by almost 2p per litre, making Sainsbury's the most expensive major supermarket for petrol at the time of reporting.
Asda also leads the way on diesel, with an average price of 142.6p per litre. This is around 0.6p cheaper than other competitors and a significant 2p less expensive than Sainsbury's, which charges 144.9p.
How the Other Supermarkets Compare
The race for second and third place is tight. Morrisons matches Asda's petrol price exactly at 134.0p per litre, while Tesco follows closely behind at 134.8p. For diesel, Morrisons is the second cheapest at 143.2p, with Tesco at 143.3p.
Here is a quick breakdown of the average supermarket fuel prices:
Average supermarket petrol prices:
- Asda - 134.0p
- Morrisons - 134.0p
- Tesco - 134.8p
- Sainsbury’s - 136.4p
Average supermarket diesel prices:
- Asda - 142.6p
- Morrisons - 143.2p
- Tesco - 143.3p
- Sainsbury’s - 144.9p
Supermarkets Still Beat the UK Average
Despite the variations between retailers, filling up at a supermarket remains the most cost-effective choice for drivers. The RAC states that the current UK average price for petrol is 135.60p per litre, while diesel averages 143.98p per litre. This means supermarket fuel is generally 3-4p per litre cheaper than the national average.
RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams explained the supermarkets' advantage. “Over the years, the supermarkets have built a reputation for selling good-value fuel, and as a result, they dominate the market,” he said. “As they sell so much fuel they are also better placed to take advantage of wholesale price dips than other retailers who don’t buy new supply as often.”
Williams did note that prices can vary locally, adding: “There is very little difference between the supermarkets on average although drivers can find significant differences from area to area, particularly if there’s strong competition from independent retailers.”
For Birmingham residents and drivers across the UK planning their Christmas travel, checking the local supermarket forecourt could lead to welcome savings before hitting the motorway.
