Christmas set to see highest petrol prices in 15 months
18/11/2009

The average price of petrol at the pumps is set to soar past 110p a litre - £5 a gallon - in the run-up to Christmas. The highest in 15 months.

The latest forecasts were compiled by the comparison website PetrolPrices.com, which has calculated that the cost of filling an average family car with unleaded fuel will be £60.50 this December - £12.15 more than a year ago.

John Franklin, a spokesman for the RAC motoring group, said: "The festive season is traditionally a very expensive time and this has been made worse by petrol prices rising by around 26 per cent from last year. With the £5 a gallon mark likely to be hit before Christmas, many families are likely to think twice about visiting family and friends."

Ali Clabburn, founder of Liftshare, said: "Whilst it's not easy to reduce your outgoings on gifts and food, getting involved in a car-sharing now could save you many hundreds of pounds over the coming year. Given that Christmas costs the average family nearly £500 - excluding the presents - this could be just what you need to take the financial sting out of the festive season."

Motorists will suffer further expense in the New Year when the Government reverses its 2.5% reduction in VAT.

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