Fuel duty due to rise by 2p a litre
Motorists already facing rising pump prices will be hit by another Government fuel duty increase this week.
Despite intense lobbying to get it to reverse its decision, the Government is pressing ahead with a planned 2p a litre rise in fuel duty on Tuesday.
With VAT included, the rise will actually be 2.3p at a time when the average price of petrol has risen to about 105p a litre.
Motoring organisations fear that the 2.3p a litre increase could soon become a 5p rise as oil prices worldwide increase.
The RAC said that a 5p increase would mean the average two-car family spending an extra £120 a year on petrol.
The duty rise will be the third in nine months following rises in April and December. Petrol prices at the start of 2009 were roughly 85p a litre but could now reach 110p a litre within weeks.
This rise of 25p over the past nine months equates to roughly £300 extra per year per car, or £600 more a year for the average two-car family.
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