Figures have revealed that fleet drivers covered more miles in February 2015 compared to the previous year following fuel price drops of 22p a litre lower than in 2014.
According to the latest HMRC figures, total fuel sales were up 3.5% on February 2014 with 3.8 billion litres of fuel sold during the month. The RAC said this netted the Government £2.2bn in fuel duty revenue.
Diesel – the preferred fuel choice among most business drivers – sales were at the fifth highest level since 1990 in February, up 4.5% this February compared to the previous year.
Motoring organisation the RAC claims the gap between the wholesale price of diesel and petrol has been reduced to a penny, while the average forecourt prices are 6p per litre apart. It is suggesting a price cut of 4p per litre to “restore parity in the market.”
“We now have evidence of a marked increase in journeys and mileage following the dramatic fall in pump prices brought about by the price of crude oil halving since the middle of last year,” said Simon Williams, RAC fuel spokesman.
“It’s hard not to think that business is being taken for a ride by the fuel retailers. Traditionally, business runs on diesel, and with sales of diesel at an all-time high the retailers have maintained a higher margin on diesel, perhaps to subsidise petrol sales,” said Williams.
Despite falling in February, fuel prices are starting to increase again. The average price of diesel in February was 114.8p, compared to 118.7p this week.