Bolton petrol stations - cheap and expensive forecourts

The Bolton News visited local petrol stations to see how much - and how quickly- prices at the pump were increasing.

Website Petrol Prices regularly shows the price difference between each forecourt.

In Bolton, it showed the cheapest was Asda in Brackley Street, Farnworth, but on arrival, we found that the price of 169p had risen to 174p in just two days since it was last updated.

This comes as the RAC warned that average fuel prices will hit £2 per litre this summer.

Both the recent surge and the oncoming increase in prices will hit people hard as the cost-of-living crisis continues.

One of the most expensive petrol stations we came across in Bolton was Esso Sharples Services, where the rate was 186.9p but showed 184.9p on the Petrol Prices website on June 5.

Government figures show the average price of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts on Monday was a record 175.6p, up 6.6p from 169.0p seven days earlier.

Morrisons petrol station just opposite Sainsburys on Trinity Street was 170.7p despite being yards away from the Sainsbury’s forecourt.

Sainsbury's Petrol Station price was 169.9p for unleaded and 

A Sainsbury’s spokesman said: “We regularly review our fuel prices and always aim to be competitive.”

The Shell forecourt on Albert Road was 185.9p, with diesel at 187.9p.

Average diesel prices increased by 3.7p per litre over the same period, reaching 185.3p.

That was the largest weekly increase for both fuels since March.

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “With analysts predicting that oil will average 135 US dollars a barrel for the rest of this year, drivers need to brace themselves for average fuel prices rocketing to £2 a litre, which would mean a fill-up would rise to an unbelievable £110.

“The oil price is rising due to increased demand for fuel across the world as China eases its Covid restrictions and America and Europe go into the peak summer driving season.

“All this combined with a weaker pound at 1.2 US dollars means wholesale fuel costs more for retailers to buy.

“The wholesale price of diesel is fast approaching 160p a litre which, when you add 7p retailer margin and 20% VAT, would take the pump price over the £2 mark.”

Diesel was at 183.7p at Asda Farnworth, but 180.9p at Sainsburys.

The most expensive was again Esso on Blackburn Road at 189.9p.