UK oil industry reverses downward pricing trend

September has so far seen three weeks of price increases by the UK's consumer-facing oil industry.

The latest official figures from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) show the upward trend, which began in the week of September 6th-13th, continued throughout September 27th.

Compared with their September 6th levels, average selling prices on oil industry forecourts have now risen by 0.8p per litre for unleaded petrol and 1.09p per litre for diesel.

Their lowest prices, 114.59p and 117.09p respectively, had been the lowest since early March.

Now, however, they stand at 115.39p per litre of unleaded petrol and 118.11p per litre of diesel as an average of selling prices nationwide.

This is still closer to their levels before the April 1st increase in the fuel duty rate than to their prices immediately following its introduction.

DECC's next scheduled update is due to be published on Tuesday, October 5th at 09:30 BST.