Where to find Exeter's cheapest fuel as diesel prices hit record 40-day streak

Exeter drivers filling up their tanks are among millions across the UK feeling the strain of the longest unbroken run of diesel price rises on record, according to the RAC.

A full tank of diesel for a typical 55-litre family car now costs £105.22 nationally, up £27 since the end of February. Petrol has risen to £87 for the same size tank, £14 more than before the conflict began.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: "The average prices of both petrol and diesel have now increased every day for the last 40 days. For diesel this is a new record for consecutive daily price rises since 2015, and for petrol it matches the run of rises seen at the end of June 2022."

Where are the cheapest pumps in Exeter?

Price data from PetrolPrices.com shows that supermarket forecourts are currently offering the best value in the city, with a gap of up to 3p per litre between the cheapest and most expensive stations listed.

Tesco Exeter Vale Extra is the cheapest for both petrol and diesel in the city, selling unleaded at 155.9p and diesel at 186.9p per litre as of 10 April. Morrisons Exeter and Sainsbury's Alphington Road are both selling diesel at 189.9p, while petrol at both sites is 157.9p.

Sainsbury's on Pinhoe Road is selling diesel at 188.9p,  2p more per litre than Tesco Vale, while Esso at Heavitree Express is the priciest for petrol on the list at 158.9p.

Tesco Exeter Vale is currently the cheapest place to fill up in Exeter, with diesel 3p per litre cheaper than several rivals in the city, saving drivers of a typical family car around £1.65 every time they fill up.

Some relief expected

Despite the record streak, the RAC says the rate of increases is now slowing. Oil has fallen back below $100 a barrel for two consecutive days, reducing wholesale costs for fuel suppliers.

Mr Williams said: "The rate of price increases has slowed due to oil falling back below $100 for the last two days. This has reduced wholesale costs which should, if sustained, lead to the price of petrol coming down."

He added that drivers should not expect unleaded to rise much further for now, and that the record diesel price of 199p "now shouldn't be surpassed."

Motorists looking for the cheapest fuel can use comparison sites such as PetrolPrices.com to find their nearest competitive forecourt.