Fuel retailers have been warned by the Energy Secretary Grant Shapps that he will “call out any foot-dragging” if they do not share pump price data.
This comes as drivers have yet again been hit with the largest weekly rise in prices at the pumps in more than a year.
The AA has said that as a result of oil producers cutting production to force the price of oil up which has resulted in a sharp increase in fuel.
In a letter to CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell, Shapps wrote, “I want to reiterate the Government’s strong support for the CMA’s temporary scheme for major retailers to make their daily prices available in a common, machine-readable format by the end of August.
“I strongly expect retailers to co-operate with the CMA to develop the voluntary scheme to this timeline and I will not hesitate to call out any foot-dragging.
“Please do keep my officials abreast of participation in the voluntary scheme so we can act if necessary.”
AA pump price spokesman Luke Bosdet said, “The summer of cheaper petrol and diesel has fizzled out as oil producers cut production to force up the cost of oil and therefore increase road fuel prices.
“Drivers have complained about some very rapid rises at the pump – sometimes 2p or 3p a litre in one go.
“This won’t help the cost-of-living crisis or inflation but, hopefully, more pump price transparency will pressure retailers to be more responsive when costs come back down again.”
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said, “High street retailers might be discounting their prices to lure us back to their shops, but there is no such luck at our service stations as fuel prices rocket just as many families are filling up for their summer holiday getaways.
“We can only hope that fuel companies are still feeling the eyes of ministers and the CMA on them as they calculate how much they really need to charge to cover their costs.”
