---
title: "UK Petrol Prices Hit Four-Year High as Oil Surge Pushes Up Fuel Costs"
publisher: "Share Talk"
author: "sharetalk"
published: "2026-09-12T09:36:50+00:00"
modified: "2026-09-12T09:36:50+00:00"
date: 2026-09-12
canonical: "https://www.share-talk.com/uk-petrol-prices-hit-four-year-high-as-oil-surge-pushes-up-fuel-costs/"
category: "Blogs"
categories: ["Blogs", "Energy"]
tags: ["AA", "Brent Crude", "car", "Chancellor", "diesel", "diesel prices", "drivers", "fuel", "fuel duty", "Iran", "Middle East", "petrol", "petrol prices", "pump prices", "RAC", "Tehran", "UK petrol prices", "United States", "unleaded petrol", "Washington"]
image: "https://i0.wp.com/www.share-talk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/UK-fuel-prices-24-march-scaled.webp?fit=1200%2C800&quality=80&ssl=1"
format: "news"
language: "en-GB"
---

# UK Petrol Prices Hit Four-Year High as Oil Surge Pushes Up Fuel Costs

**Published:** September 12, 2026
**Author:** sharetalk
**Categories:** Blogs, Energy
**Tags:** AA, Brent Crude, car, Chancellor, diesel, diesel prices, drivers, fuel, fuel duty, Iran, Middle East, petrol, petrol prices, pump prices, RAC, Tehran, UK petrol prices, United States, unleaded petrol, Washington
**Featured image:** ![](https://i0.wp.com/www.share-talk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/UK-fuel-prices-24-march-scaled.webp?fit=1200%2C800&quality=80&ssl=1)

---

UK petrol prices have climbed to their **highest level in four years** as the latest escalation in the Middle East pushes oil and wholesale fuel costs sharply higher.

The average price of a litre of unleaded has risen to **168.46p**, the highest level since September 2022, according to the RAC.

The increase follows a **10% jump in oil prices this week**, with Brent crude approaching $108 a barrel as concerns over disruption to global energy supplies intensify.

Diesel prices are also under renewed pressure, with the RAC warning they could reach a fresh high since the start of the Iran conflict within days. The average price of diesel stood at **190.08p a litre on Friday**.

**RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis** said the latest rise in crude oil was continuing to drive wholesale fuel prices higher, with diesel particularly exposed.

The rise in forecourt prices adds another potential source of inflationary pressure for UK households and businesses.

Higher petrol and diesel costs can feed through into transport, distribution and manufacturing costs, raising the risk that inflation remains elevated for longer and increasing pressure on the **Bank of England to consider further interest-rate increases**.

The International Energy Agency also warned that the global oil market is becoming increasingly tight.

According to the IEA, global oil reserves have fallen by around **2.8 million barrels a day since the US and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February**, with the rate of depletion accelerating to approximately 3.1 million barrels a day in August.

The agency warned that continued conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine could eventually force motorists and businesses to reduce fuel consumption as supply constraints and higher prices begin to destroy demand.

The IEA has cut its latest oil supply forecasts, with global crude production now expected to average **100.7 million barrels a day this year**, more than 5% below 2025 levels.

That forecast is also **1.3 million barrels a day lower than the agency expected previously**.

The IEA said a full recovery in Middle Eastern production is now not expected until **2027**, reflecting continued disruption and uncertainty across key producing regions.

It also expects tighter supply and elevated diesel prices to reduce global oil demand by around **2.5 million barrels a day this year**, almost 40% more than it forecast last month.

For UK motorists, the immediate impact is already being felt at the pumps, with **petrol at a four-year high and diesel prices still rising** as the global oil market tightens.

---

**Original URL:** https://www.share-talk.com/uk-petrol-prices-hit-four-year-high-as-oil-surge-pushes-up-fuel-costs/
*Created by [WP Markdown Endpoint](https://wpmarkdownendpoint.com/)*