CMA publishes latest monitoring update on road fuel market

No evidence retailers actively changed their pricing strategies to take advantage of the crisis 

Lack of effective competition remains a concern and further analysis will follow in the autumn 

Analysis shows 99% of all UK road fuel is sold by retailers registered with Fuel Finder and vast majority of sites are updating price information 

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published its latest road fuel monitoring report, setting out how the conflict in the Middle East has affected what drivers pay at the pump. The report also assesses fuel margins – the difference between the price petrol stations pay for fuel and the price they sell it at – and provides an update on Fuel Finder registration and enforcement.  

In its previous report, published in June, the CMA found that the conflict had caused a rapid increase in wholesale fuel costs, which had been passed on to drivers through higher prices and that historically high margins remained a concern.  

Overall, the CMA’s analysis indicates that lower wholesale prices led to prices at the pump falling in June, although prices remained significantly above pre-conflict levels. The CMA has not found evidence that retailers actively changed their pricing strategies to take advantage of the crisis.  

However, the CMA remains concerned that the continued use of passive pricing strategies by the majority of retailers is contributing to sustained high margins. The CMA’s analysis indicates that some retailers did not immediately pass reductions in wholesale diesel prices on to drivers – a move which would have intensified competitive pressure on rival retailers.