Unleaded 95 octane fuel (regular gasoline) prices have been consistently cheaper at supermarkets than fuel stations in the United Kingdom. In March 2024, the gap between both price averages was 3.1 pence per liter, with supermarket prices standing at 142.2 pence per liter.

On June 2, 2025, the price of ultra-low sulfur unleaded petrol (gasoline) in the United Kingdom averaged 131.45 pence per liter. This compared to 138.09 pence per liter for diesel. Diesel prices were consistently higher than petrol/gasoline prices throughout this period, although the margin varied. Reasons for such differences in pricing lie in the refining process and molecular makeup of the products, with diesel requiring more complex refining processes and being an overall heavier liquid. As motor fuel pricing in the UK is not regulated by a monitoring body, there may also be notable differences in prices between retailers and regions. Supermarkets provide lowest fuel prices in the UK In the UK, much of the motor fuel is sold through supermarkets. Large supermarkets, or hypermarkets, account for more than 40 percent of all motor fuel sales in the country. The reason for their popularity often lies in the fact that they offer lower average prices. In the last four years, regular petrol/gasoline sold at supermarkets was up to six pence per liter cheaper than the national average. How UK fuel prices compare to the rest of the world Tied as they are to crude oil prices, motor fuels are generally cheapest in major producing countries, such as Iran, Venezuela, and Russia. In Europe, costs of importing the raw or finished products, in addition to taxes and levies, may hike up pump prices significantly. The UK is often among the countries with the highest petrol/gasoline prices, alongside other large European car markets such as France and Germany.

Diesel prices in the United Kingdom rose to more than 150 pence per liter in early 2024. The March national average was 153.9 pence per liter, compared with a price of 151.3 pence per liter for diesel sold at supermarkets.

Hypermarkets dominate motor fuel sales Hypermarkets such as Sainsbury's, Asda, and Tesco have the greatest market share of motor fuel sold in the UK. In 2023, roughly 43 percent of all motor fuels were sold at hypermarkets.

Diesel more expensive than regular gasoline Although gasoline and diesel are both refined petroleum products, their refining process differs, thus also impacting manufacturing and retail prices. Diesel sold in the UK is required to have an ultra-low sulfur content and also contain a biodiesel component of seven percent. The extra steps required in the production process make diesel a more expensive commodity than gasoline, which trades around 10 pence lower.

This statistic shows the change in the price of gasoline per liter in selected countries for the period between June 2019 and June 2020. The price changes concern unleaded premium (95 RON) for France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, and regular unleaded for Canada, Japan, and the United States (AKI 87). RON stands for Research Octane Number, while AKI means Anti-Knock Index. Both represent the most common octane rating in the countries shown. In June 2020, the gasoline price per liter in the U.S. was 23.4 percent lower than it was in June 2019.

Influences on gasoline prices

The price of gasoline is a frequently discussed issue, and is a part of almost everybody’s life in developed countries. Gasoline prices worldwide are dependent of a number of factors: crude oil prices, costs for processing and distribution, demand, strength of currencies, taxation, and availability. The most influential factor is the crude oil price. This price includes the costs for exploration, extraction, and transport. What the consumer pays in the end is also an issue of national oil pricing policy. Typical regions with high taxes on gasoline are European countries and Japan. Other countries keep consumer prices low by subsidizing the costs for gasoline. Among latter countries are the United States, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Venezuela, Egypt, Malaysia, Bolivia, and others. There are many other factors, however, which directly influence the price of gasoline. Wars, crises, and natural disasters in oil producing regions, for example, can obstruct the production and transportation, and thus cause higher crude oil prices. Last but not least, the end-consumer defines the price through his or her demand. A higher number of people driving cars means higher prices for gasoline, which is often the case in the summer months or holiday seasons.

At 3.82 U.S. dollars per gallon in October 2022, regular all formulation retail gasoline prices in the United States were considerably lower than in Hong Kong or the Central African Republic, which reported the highest gasoline prices in the world at the end of October 2022. Norway also ranked high this year. Its high gasoline prices might be one of the reasons why the country is leading the charge towards electric mobility. Gas prices in selected countries worldwide Fuel prices in different countries range from a few cents to almost two U.S. dollars per liter. Gasoline is often regarded as a key driver of a country’s economy, as it is the main fuel used in passenger vehicles and the automotive fleets of small and large businesses. The United States is one of the biggest consumers of gasoline on a per capita basis, with approximately 356 gallons of gasoline per person in 2020. Fuel prices respond to crude oil price changes One of the liquid’s main ingredients is crude oil. The spot prices of publicly traded crudes, such as U.S.-sourced WTI (West Texas Intermediate), UK Brent, and the OPEC basket grades, are highly volatile and have proven prone to inflation as of late, most recently due to the novel coronavirus outbreak in China, blockages in the Suez Canal, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Where access to oil is limited, this volatility may spur a shift towards alternative propulsion systems and fuels among a growing number of vehicle drivers. Affordability of fuel Gas prices in Europe are counted among the highest worldwide. At 7.6 U.S. dollars per gallon or more, gasoline is particularly expensive in Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Greece, Finland, and the Netherlands. Car drivers in Mozambique and Madagascar feel the most pain at the pump. Some 145.7 percent of a month's wages are needed to fill up a tank in Mozambique. The low affordability of fuel is due to weak currencies, limited wage growth, and a level of prosperity that is yet to meet other markets' standards. The high price in countries such as the Netherlands and Norway is largely attributable to taxes. Other factors driving gas prices include local demand, processing and distribution costs, and the aforementioned level of crude oil prices.

A dataset of van MPG ratings and fuel cost calculations based on manufacturer, model, and fuel type.

Tariffs make up the greatest share of automotive gasoline prices in the United Kingdom. As of May 2020, tariffs accounted for over 50 percent of the average gasoline price at 1.22 euros per liter. The breakdown of gasoline prices was similar to the breakdown of diesel prices in the UK during the same period.

Hong Kong had the highest prices for premium gasoline (95-RON) on May 12, 2025. That day, prices averaged 3.44 U.S. dollars per liter, which was notably more than in any other country. While oil-rich countries enjoy some of the lowest gasoline prices, drivers in big car markets such as Europe pay around 2 U.S. dollars per liter.

The average gas price in Great Britain in March 2025 was 102.31 British pence per therm. This was 35 pence higher than the same month the year prior and follows a trend of increasing gas prices. Energy prices in the UK Energy prices in the UK were exceptionally high in 2021-2022 due to an energy supply shortage as a result of lower pipeline supplies from Norway and Russia, as well as reduced LNG imports owing to greater purchases by customers in Asia. Multiple factors such as a lack of gas storage availability and the large share of gas in heating have exacerbated the supply issue in the UK. This led to multiple suppliers announcing bankruptcy, while an upped price cap threatened energy security of numerous households. The United Kingdom has some of the highest household electricity prices worldwide. How is gas used in the UK? According to a 2023 survey conducted by the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, 58 percent of respondents used gas as a heating method during the winter months. On average, household expenditure on energy from gas in the UK stood at some 24.9 billion British pounds in 2023.

Average price of unleaded gasoline (95 RON) in Great Britain fluctuated. Between 2000 and 2020, figures increased by 0.16 euros per liter, peaking at 1.67 euros per liter in 2012. Prices reached the lowest in 2003, at 1.10 euros per liter. The average price for unleaded gasoline amounted to 1.48 euros in 2020.

This statistic shows the average price for gas oil (excluding VAT), in pence per liter, in the United Kingdom (UK) between December 2008 and December 2018. The year on year price of gas oil increased strongly between 2008 and 2011 after which it began to slightly decrease, most dramatically over 2014 and 2015 when gas oil prices declined to approximately 56% of the December 2013 price. In 2018, the gas oil price reached 53.29 pence per liter.

Diesel fuel prices in Great Britain increased by 20 euro cents in the period of consideration, despite some fluctuation. Between 2000 and 2020, figures peaked at 1.75 euros in 2012. The lowest average diesel price was seen in 2003, at 1.12 euros per liter. By 2020, diesel was sold by an average of 1.55 euros per liter.

In June 2020, the gasoline price per liter in the United States stood at 0.55 U.S. dollars, the cheapest among the selected eight countries. However, this is a considerable price change compared to June 2019, when figures were 23.4 percent higher. Italy recorded the highest fuel price of all countries listed here, at 1.56 U.S. dollars per liter. The prices concern unleaded premium (95 RON) for France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom and regular unleaded for Canada, Japan, and the United States (AKI 87). Liquid fuels demand decline following coronavirusFinal gasoline prices result from crude oil charges, processing and distribution costs, and taxes and underly supply and demand. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has reduced the demand for fuel and in turn impacted petroleum prices worldwide. The U.S. liquid fuels demand in the road sector is expected to have decreased to 8.7 million barrels per day in the second quarter of 2020. As a result, U.S. monthly crude oil production dropped across all regions between March and August 2020. Diesel prices worldwideItaly also has the greatest tag on diesel prices among the above listed countries. As of that same month, the price for automotive diesel stood at 1.43 U.S. dollars per liter in the Southern European country. Diesel prices tend to be lower than gasoline prices, with the United Kingdom and the U.S. proving to be the exception.

The price of unleaded 95 octane fuel in the United Kingdom has increased significantly in 2022. In September 2022, prices reached 165.3 pence per liter. This was a decrease compared to three months prior when they had climbed to a new high. Unleaded 95 octane is the most commonly used fuel in the UK. Unlike super unleaded, which is mostly used in high performance vehicles, it is suitable for most petrol engines. It is also the cheapest fuel option, when compared to diesel fuel prices.Supermarket vs. UK averageWhen comparing prices, supermarkets are consistently the cheapest option when refueling. The gap between the two has varied, but in 2022 it has closed to just two pence per liter. In 2021, Tesco had the largest market share of motor fuel sold in the UK, at nearly 16 percent. The combined market share of Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Asda amounted to 43.2 percent, which is unsurprising as supermarkets offer the cheapest prices. Petrol station numbersAlthough supermarkets have a large market share of the volume of petrol sold, it is major oil and gas companies that operate the greatest number of petrol stations. By the end of 2021, the British multinational oil and gas firm BP owned 1,218 sites across the country. The combined number of petrol stations of BP, Esso and Shell amounted to nearly 43 percent of all UK outlets. In comparison, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Asda operated less than 20 percent.

Motor fuel prices in Wales ranged between 144.2 and 157.7 pence per liter in March 2024, with unleaded 95 octane fuel the cheapest fuel choice. proved the most expensive fuel choice. Motor fuel prices in Wales are generally lower than those in Scotland, but higher than in Northern Ireland.

The average monthly price for natural gas in the United States amounted to 4.13 nominal U.S. dollars per million British thermal units (Btu) in March 2025. By contrast, natural gas prices in Europe were about three times higher than those in the U.S. Prices in Europe tend to be notably higher than those in the U.S. as the latter benefits from being a major hydrocarbon producer. Europe's import reliance European prices for natural gas rose most notable throughout the second half of 2021 and much of 2022, peaking at over 70 U.S. dollars per million Btu in August 2022. The sharp rise was due to supply chain issues and economic strain following the COVID-19 pandemic, which was further exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. As a result of the war, many countries began looking for alternative sources, and Russian pipeline gas imports to the European Union declined as a result. Meanwhile, LNG was a great beneficiary, with LNG demand in Europe rising by more than 60 percent between 2021 and 2023. How domestic natural gas production shapes prices As intimated, the United States’ position among the leaders of worldwide natural gas production is one of the main reasons for why prices for this commodity are so low across the country. In 2023, the U.S. produced more than one trillion cubic meters of natural gas, which allays domestic demand and allows for far lower purchasing prices.

In March 2024, average motor fuel prices in Scotland ranged between 144.9 and 161.2 pence per liter. Super unleaded was the most expensive option and noted the most pronounced price hike compared to the previous month. Prices in Scotland were generally lower than the UK average.

In September 2022, the average super unleaded fuel price in the United Kingdom was 177.8 pence per liter. This was more than 20 pence lower than the peak of 200 pence per liter recorded in June and July 2022. Super unleaded is a premium gasoline and has been the most expensive motor fuel choice in almost every month. However, in some months of 2022, diesel prices had surged past super unleaded prices.