British motorists are facing record diesel prices, with the average cost reaching 199.18 pence a litre on Monday, according to motoring organisation RAC.
The latest price surpassed the previous record of 199.09 pence a litre, set in June 2022 during the energy market shock that followed Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The cost of filling an average family car with diesel has risen to almost £110 ($145.60), about £31($41) more than before the conflict began, RAC head of policy Simon Williams said.
Petrol prices have also increased, reaching an average of 174.13 pence a litre, according to the RAC.
The rise in diesel prices is also increasing transport and logistics costs because the fuel is widely used by freight operators, as well as in agriculture and other industries.
Williams said the higher costs would affect not only motorists but also consumers who buy goods and services transported using diesel-powered vehicles. He said sustained lower oil prices would be needed before pump prices begin to fall.
Fuel prices are also an important contributor to UK inflation, which reached a five-month high in August, adding to pressure on households facing a prolonged cost-of-living crisis.
Despite the record, UK diesel prices remain below those in several European markets. RAC data for September 21 showed the UK tied with Italy for the seventh-highest diesel prices among 15 European countries, with the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Belgium and France recording higher prices.
International diesel prices have risen sharply amid tighter global refining capacity and supply disruptions linked to conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine.
Prices also came under renewed pressure after US President Donald Trump voiced support for a potential ban on US diesel exports. Such a move could further tighten supplies for net importers such as the UK and other European countries.
