Petrol sales down during half-year.

[ringway]

Source. Press Association.





Petrol sales fell by 5 per cent in the first half of the year.



More motorists cut back on driving in the first half of the year as record fuel prices squeezed household incomes and triggered a 5% drop in petrol sales.

The slide in volumes between January and June, equal to 517.2 million litres, deprived the Treasury of £985 million in fuel duty, the AA motoring organisation said.

The decline sped up throughout the period, with sales dropping 6.6% in the second quarter compared with a 3.9% fall in the previous three months, as petrol hit a peak of 137.43p a litre and diesel touched 143.04p.

The study also revealed supermarkets have "coped" better with the downturn as petrol sales at non-supermarket retailers dropped 11.8%, while greater competition on price meant supermarkets saw a 0.4% increase.

Edmund King, president of the AA, said many car owners could not afford record forecourt prices and were "losing mobility as a consequence".
He said: "There is no downplaying the impact of record fuel prices on family and other people's lives."

The cost of petrol surged in the first half of the year as volatility in north Africa and the Middle East threatened oil supplies and forced up prices. However, global recession fears have seen the price of oil come off the boil, gradually dropping since its peak in May.

Brent crude in London has dropped below the 100 US dollar-a-barrel mark for the first time since August 9. But the AA previously said a dip in petrol prices had failed to match the fall in wholesale prices.
The AA said new government figures show 1.7 billion fewer litres of petrol and diesel were sold at UK petrol stations than in the first half of 2008, just as the country was plunging into recession.

Motorists paid on average 133.13p per litre of petrol between January and June this year, compared with 116.68p the previous year and 109p in 2008, the AA said.

 

[Red C220]

I have to admit, for the first time in my life I think about where I need to drive.

I don't not use the car, but I conciously think where I need to go and run two or three errands in one go whereas before I would have simply driven out and got whatever I needed without a thought.

 

[Benzowner]

Is it me or does the figures not add up? Slide in volume of 517million litre depriveing the chancellor of £985 million £1.90/litre? or have I misread

 

[grober]

Is that a drop in petrol consumption only with diesel not included?? Or do they really mean fuel. If more and more people [ particularly company car owners] are driving more fuel efficient diesel or direct injection petrol cars that could surely have the same effect?

 

[bpsorrel]

I have to admit, for the first time in my life I think about where I need to drive.

Me too. Where I used to make the 90 mile round trip to one of my clients 2 or 3 times a month, I now only go once. I'm using Skype far more to communicate with some clients rather than physically visiting them. I don't go down to London half as much as I used to, even visiting my Dad less often.

To be honest, it's mostly principle as I can (just about!) afford the fuel, I just don't want to! (Think I got spoilt with the 50p a litre cost in Russia this summer!)

 

[300CE]

I wonder whether there's a few more people turning to two wheels as the cost for public transport is pretty expensive too. I use a 250cc Scooter for work have a 45 mile round trip each day. I can get 150 miles out of £10.00 and can also tax, insure & service it & it's still cheaper than paying out for a yearly season ticket.

 

[Rory]

More motorists cut back on driving in the first half of the year ...

I don't think that's true at all - the roads seem as jammed as ever to me, in fact the last few trips I've done have all been a nightmre.

What I do think is happening is that people are driving a bit slower - and on the motorways that's not helping things as the carrying capacity drops as speeds drop.

We've also got the effect of cars getting more and more economical all the time.

 

[The mallard]

on the motorways that's not helping things as the carrying capacity drops as speeds drop.

Actually it is more the reverse. The optimum speed for maximum traffic flow (vehicles per hour) is actually quite low, certainly well below 70mph. It is a fairly complex calculation but essentially as speeds increase,distances between vehicles increase so capacity drops. The other side of the equation is as vehicles slow, gaps reduce, of course if you slow to a stop there is no flow, so it is a curve on a graph, and you look for the peak flow v's speed.

 

[Rory]

Actually it is more the reverse. The optimum speed for maximum traffic flow (vehicles per hour) is actually quite low, certainly well below 70mph. It is a fairly complex calculation but essentially as speeds increase,distances between vehicles increase so capacity drops. The other side of the equation is as vehicles slow, gaps reduce, of course if you slow to a stop there is no flow, so it is a curve on a graph, and you look for the peak flow v's speed.

Yes, I realise that the sections of motorway covered by variable speed limits tend to work quite well because drivers are doing the ideal thing - all going at the same speed.

The problem I see now is that when traffic is not too heavy and would allow higher speeds to be used, many people are driving too slowly. You always got the odd one, but there's loads of 'em now.

 

[Mercy1]

We've also got the effect of cars getting more and more economical all the time.

I agree. We are reading posts all the time here about how our cars are clocking up 50 odd mpg - something that was unheard of before.
That certainly means we are buying less fuel - not travelling less!
I doubt if this has been factored in to the stats...which seem to be based solely on the dip in fuel sales.

 

[Mr E]

I agree. We are reading posts all the time here about how our cars are clocking up 50 odd mpg - something that was unheard of before.
That certainly means we are buying less fuel - not travelling less!
I doubt if this has been factored in to the stats...

Mine have been doing that for the past 7 years (and it's been the general trend over the last decade) so I would have thought it would not make much difference to the numbers.

I can only go by my own experience and observation but:

• 
  We think a bit more about the journeys we make.

• We don't go supermarket shopping - it's done on-line and get delivered (which doesn't take out the whole journey, but would cut out a fair bit)

• I'm signing off fewer mileage expense claims for work.

• I was able to have an extra half hour in bed each morning last week - attending a course and the motorway was deserted compared to previous trips to the same venue. My colleagues also commented on this.

We're probably spending about £300/month less then at this time last year so overpaying on the mortgage and Mrs E's car. We sat down and looked at spending over the previous couple of months and were very surprised at how much the impulse spending actually was. With living out in the sticks, that included nipping into town, etc, which is a 20+ mile round trip.

Over the last 4 years I've cut my annual mileage from almost 50k down to 20k. All through changes in working practice, and the customer gets the same service but, because they are not paying travel time and costs, they get it cheaper too. And I cut off at 5 o'clock too.

 

[M3 SHAM]

I wonder whether there's a few more people turning to two wheels as the cost for public transport is pretty expensive too. I use a 250cc Scooter for work have a 45 mile round trip each day. I can get 150 miles out of £10.00 and can also tax, insure & service it & it's still cheaper than paying out for a yearly season ticket.

Dont know about 2 wheels but i have started to walk to the shops again

 

[elisetype25]

Now here's the real reason the govt. are considering increasing the limit to 80mph on our motorways! (Mainly due to air resistance fuel consumption reduces significantly at 80 v 70 mph - I calculate something between 7% & 10%)

Regards, Neil

 

[Dieselman]

Now here's the real reason the govt. are considering increasing the limit to 80mph on our motorways!

Is that fact...

I think you will find this is the reason they haven't increased the limit.

 

[Harrythedog]

It's because the politicians can't claim as many expenses as they could last year

 

[Benzmanc]

Yes, I realise that the sections of motorway covered by variable speed limits tend to work quite well because drivers are doing the ideal thing - all going at the same speed.

The problem I see now is that when traffic is not too heavy and would allow higher speeds to be used, many people are driving too slowly. You always got the odd one, but there's loads of 'em now.

Tell me about it, the last 2 days I've been in a truck limited to 52mph and have had to overtake quite a number of cars doing a lot less.

Daz

 

[elisetype25]

Now here's the real reason the govt. are considering increasing the limit to 80mph on our motorways! (Mainly due to air resistance fuel consumption reduces significantly at 80 v 70 mph - I calculate something between 7% & 10%)

Regards, Neil

I obviously meant consumption increases! or mpg reduces!

N

 

[biturbo]

i drive a s600 and sl60, 2 cars with near as makes no difference 12 litres of engine combined. When i fuel up it makes me think only a decade ago it was what i was paid a week in wages is what im putting in a week in fuel.

 

[st4]

I've noticed now just how much more expensive it is to do simple journeys than it was even 3 years ago, when I first got a Mercedes. I drove to Edinburgh and back for about £20 if that, now its £30 at c. 40mpg