Chancellor puts off 2p increase until October
The planned 2p per litre increase in fuel duty for April has been delayed.
Chancellor Alistair Darling, in his Budget today (12 March), announced a postponement in the rise for six months.
The rise would have seen diesel fuel costing over 115p per litre – or £5.22 a gallon.
According to the AA, average fuel prices in the UK last month were 106.3p per litre for petrol. And 113.1p per litre for diesel.
However, high fuel costs are a burden small businesses must face – a point made by John Wright, chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses.
“We welcome the freeze on fuel duty until October, but the issue is unlikely to go away,” commented Wright.
“The cost of fuel is damaging small businesses and their customers in every industry and every area of the country.”