John Oram's photos with the keyword: Fuel Prices

The ravages of coronavirus were felt across the world and impacted everyone directly or indirectly. One unexpected development which would be variously welcomed or rued according to affiliation was a dramatic slump in oil prices and, subsequently, prices at the pumps. On 25 March 2020 , I recorded a similar view of ASDA Fareham after a 12p/litre reduction on petrol prices. Not two months later, a further reduction of 3p took prices below the psychologically important £1 mark. This coincided with the early part of easing of some of the restrictions we had all faced and the forecourt, although quiet for a Friday, was busier than it had been on most days in recent weeks. 200_3_P1120571C

As at least one oil producing country encouraged over-supply, the consequences manifested in the middle of the coronavirus crisis in a 12p/litre reduction in prices at supermarket pumps. I do not recall such a large single adjustment up or down. There is a degree of irony in this development as private vehicle traffic is significantly down and many people have to refuel only infrequently. TZ70_P1020130CE

Fuel prices are, in fact, much lower than in 2012 but they are currently rising again. For all the ups and downs, one thing which does not change is the extraordinary amount by which motorway prices exceed those in and around towns. On the date of this photograph, BP's own town prices for diesel were around 121.9 - 123.9 and a major supermarket wanted only 117.7 - 118.7 (at two different sites). A price of 135.9, then, is pretty well inexplicable except in terms of greed. 200_2_P1140790C

There was a time, not long ago, when we thought fuel prices would stay high forever. Then, in 2015, they started to go down and, during the second half of the year, petrol and diesel prices flipped to make diesel cheaper for the first time in a long while. That flip was soon, scandalously, reversed but, as the year drew to a close, even the oil companies could not ignore the steadily falling price of crude. I doubt that they felt either shame or guilt but, nevertheless, as 2016 arrived, prices of both fuels dipped below £1 per litre and, in many places, reached parity. The relief of motorists was reflected in the scrum on the forecourt of ASDA Fareham at around 0920 on a Sunday morning before the store and main pumps had opened. The queue visible in this picture - except for the car second from the right which, inexplicably, was waiting at the pumps which would not open until 1000 - was for the pay at pump pumps. 200_2_P1080372

Remarkable things happened to fuel prices in 2015. After a long period of seemingly inexorable increases, prices started to decline (although there was a brief reversal of this trend). It was also noticeable that the differential between petrol and diesel which had become substantial - with diesel being more expensive - began to shrink. In July 2015, diesel became cheaper than petrol at many outlets and this was reported as being the first time since 2001. It had never been explained (to my satisfaction) why diesel, the less refined product, should be more expensive. For a long while the differential essentially removed the historical advantage of driving a diesel for even high mileage drivers. Now the fuel world has been turned upside down - or back the right way up. 200_2_P1060100

In May and October of 2012, I first commented on the outrageously high fuel prices charged by BP on motorways. In recent months, prices have fallen dramatically but BP maintains its motorway policy. This is Rownhams services M27(E). Diesel can be bought at 110.7p per litre in towns accessed from this motorway but here the price is 122.9. Whatever the official line including the old chestnut about having to provide 24hr service, there can be no excuse for this differential. 200_2_P1020682