“The Guardian analysis of the new government scheme to track fuel prices, Fuel Finder, also found that in England, the north has experienced the sharpest increase in petrol prices.”

“Drivers in England and Scotland are paying between 180p and 210p per litre of petrol, more than the country average of 154p.”

“The average petrol price for 10 major retailers, including supermarkets, has risen sharply.”

“Operators of Shell petrol stations are now charging an average of 158p a litre for standard unleaded petrol, with BP- and Esso-branded petrol stations charging an average of 157p and 155p.”

“This is an increase of 16% for Esso and Shell and 15% for BP compared with the average price on the day the war broke out, when unleaded petrol was 133p for Esso petrol stations and 136p for BP and Shell petrol stations.”

“Individual retailers, some of which are fuel companies themselves, control the price of fuel at petrol stations. Prices are based on wholesale costs, local competition and desired profit.”

“Under the new government scheme, running from the beginning of February, petrol stations must report changes to petrol prices within 30 minutes of altering them.”

“There is a period of three months before petrol stations could get fined if they do not comply with the regulation.”

“The Guardian analysed data submitted by the stations to the Fuel Finder Scheme so far, as well as historical snapshots from Fuel Costs, which together covers about 70% of more than 8,300 UK petrol stations.”

“Separate official data analysed by RAC showed that petrol prices have gone up nearly 22p a litre – or 16% – to an average of 154.45p since the beginning of the war.”

“It [the price of petrol] was last this high at the end of October 2023. The diesel story is even more dramatic, having shot up by almost 9p in the last week alone. It’s now risen by 30% since the end of February, with 43p a litre being added, taking it to an average 185.23p – a price last recorded at the end of November 2022.”