Rising fuel costs proving costly for Harrogate businesses
The average cost of fuel in Harrogate has gone up to 160.7 per litre
Drivers and businesses across Harrogate district have been hit by the steep increase in fuel prices.
Checking petrol stations around the area, the average cost for a litre of petrol is 160.7.
The RAC said the jump was the largest on records dating back to the year 2000.
Stuart Winder is a driving instructor from Boroughbridge who teaches in Ripon. He said he could end up paying an extra £120 a month in fuel if prices keep increasing.
He said:
"Last week I put in 37 litres of fuel and I spent £58 and last night I put in another 37 litres of fuel in at the same garage and it was £63.
"If it's anticipated that fuel prices will reach £2 per litre that would be an extra £25-£30 per tank full of fuel that I'm putting in my vehicle.
"It's usually between £110 and £130 per week but I've noticed over the last few weeks that has increased. It is a large amount and over a monthly period that is probably going to be £120 extra a month just on fuel.
"I've got no intention of increasing my prices but that might have to change if we get to that £2 a litre mark. I'll have to have a discussion with myself and potentially with other drivers in Harrogate about what they're doing."
The UK was already facing increased energy costs as a result of global supply issues, but it's expected to worsen as a result of the war in Ukraine.
As Russia is the world’s second-biggest producer and largest exporter of natural gas, any further sanctions by the West would push prices up further.
RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said drivers will be "wondering whether these record rises are ever going to stop".
He went on:
"While prices may well continue to go up in the coming days, oil and wholesale fuel prices dropped for the second day in a row yesterday which should hopefully slow, or even halt, the cycle of escalating pump prices in the next week or so as retailers buy new stock at lower prices.
"There is, however, a concern they will be reluctant to lower their prices for fear of catching a cold if wholesale costs were to jump back up again.
"The oil price drop, which was the biggest since the early stages of the pandemic, was caused by traders becoming less concerned about supply disruption.
"The barrel price fell almost nine US dollars on Thursday from 129.41 dollars to 120.99 dollars having already come down from nearly 138 dollars on Tuesday."