'worrying' warning issued to drivers filling up on petrol or diesel this week

Drivers are being issued a warning over petrol and diesel after prices at the forecourt have 'shot up'. The cost of petrol has risen by more than 3p a litre in the past three

weeks, while the price tag on diesel has increased by 4p, according to the RAC. The changes add 'around £2' to the cost of filling up a family car in the past three weeks alone.

READ MORE: DRIVERS WARNED COST OF MOT COULD HIT £372 The RAC said: "Worryingly for drivers, unleaded has risen by 3.2p from 140p on 29 January to 143.4p on 18 February and diesel has

shot up from 148p to 152p in the same period, adding around £2 to filling up a family car. "The pump price increases have been brought about by a jump in the price of oil which has been

trading above $80 a barrel for most of the last four weeks, having been well below that for the previous seven." It means it's bad news for drivers because prices have effectively

hit rock bottom and have only one way to go: up. RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “News that fuel prices have bottomed out and are now on the rise again is bad news for drivers, and

possibly the economy and future inflation rates, too. “While we’re not expecting prices to shoot up dramatically, it appears that oil is trading up, which in the absence of a stronger pound,

means wholesale fuel costs more for retailers to buy in. The result is higher prices at the pump and more expense for the every-day driver." “The Red Sea attacks by Houthi rebels,

which are forcing tankers to avoid the Suez Canal and instead go round South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, are clearly playing their part, but so have global refinery maintenance closures, the

start of America’s driving season and UK retailers buying more fuel stocks ahead of the Budget to protect against a possible fuel duty hike by the Chancellor."