Petrol giants ... do not reflect falling wholesale price PETROL giants were accused yesterday of ripping off motorists by failing to pass on cheaper fuel prices.
Asda launched a price war by cutting the cost of unleaded by a penny to 111.9p a litre - but the AA slammed other firms.
They said every chain should be doing the same after a seven per cent plunge in the wholesale price of petrol in a fortnight - and revealed that motorists in the South East now pay almost 2p per litre more than in the North.
AA public affairs spokesman Luke Bosdet said: "When retailers fail to pass on savings to motorists - at a time when they're paying ?7 a tank more to fill up than last year - it's a rip-off.
"Last week retailers warned prices could soar over the Bank Holiday.That was scaremongering and Asda has showed what is really going on by cutting prices."
Sainsbury's said it would follow Asda's cut in parts of the country.
But the AA revealed Tesco is charging more than oil firm JET across the UK.
And motorists pay over 117p per litre at BP - 5p more than at Asda.
Inflation figures yesterday showed petrol went up 14.3 per cent over the past year.
Sharply dearer fruit meant food prices rose one per cent between June and July.
But overall, the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) dropped from 3.2 to 3.1 per cent because of cheaper clothing, gas, cameras and computers.
Core inflation - which strips out food and energy - dipped to the lowest level since November 2009.
It's a boost for homeowners, who face higher taxes to help the Government balance its books.
The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) said a family's disposable income could be just ?172 a week in December - a two-year low.
Bank of England boss Mervyn King said he was "surprised" by the recent strength of inflation.
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Fuel giants don’t pass on savings | The Sun |News|Sun City

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