Fuel Ranked 4th in UK "Rip Off" Survey

In the wake of new warnings from the AA predicting a petrol price increase to 132.7p a litre, a survey conducted by popular discount website VoucherCodes.co.uk has revealed that fuel is among one of the top "rip off" items abhorred by British consumers. Fuel ranked 4^th in the rip off stakes, with 26% of respondents admitting to feeling gauged when filling up the tank at petrol stations.

Anita Naik of VoucherCodes.co.uk says, "There is a clear consensus among Brits as to which products we find most annoying in terms of price."

Saudi drone strikes could push up petrol prices, warns AA

Recent drone strikes on Saudi Arabia could contribute to rising fuel prices and the feeling of being fleeced, with the AA predicting that motorists could be hit with a 5p per litre increase in pump prices. The spike would be a reaction to the jump in wholesale petrol costs which increased by more than 4p a litre following the attacks. If petrol retailers increase prices to the predicted 132.7p a litre it will mark the highest prices seen since October 2013.

AA spokesman Luke Bodset explains supermarket retailers such as Asda, Sainsburys and Tesco will temporarily be insulated from price increases, leaving independent retailers to feel the sting.

“Non-supermarket forecourts receiving deliveries now will see the cost reflecting the wholesale price and, understandably, put up their pump prices. The fuller impact of any sustained wholesale price increase will take a matter of days to be substantially reflected on the UK average. The supermarkets will take longer to pump up their prices, mainly because they are on longer-term contracts.”

Popcorn and lattes join petrol as worst "rip off" offenders

Petrol prices aren't the only thing causing resentment among British consumers, with popcorn and lattes made by coffee shops also drawing negative attention for their inflated price tags. Three in five Brits maintain popcorn sold at movie cinemas is overprices, with other cinema snacks such as chocolate and ice cream coming in a close second. Hotel mini bar drinks and snacks were third on the list, with petrol cited as the fourth most overpriced item. Next up came printer ink, smartphones, branded over-the-counter medication, tobacco, bottled water and takeaway coffee. Despite the feeling of extortion, around 39% of consumers aged between 18-24 admit to buying the overpriced items, often unnecessarily.

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