The competition watchdog is set to launch another investigation into fuel prices as they continue to climb to record levels.

The Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) initial review found a “growing gap” between the price of crude oil entering refineries and the wholesale price of petrol and diesel leaving them.

It said the 5p-per-litre fuel duty cut implemented by the Treasury in March “appears to have been implemented” by retailers and that “the gap between wholesale prices and retail prices has not been a significant contributor to the overall rise in pump prices”.

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Some people have slammed forecourts for rising prices over recent weeks but the CMA said that retailers’ profit margins have “remained about 10p per litre on average”.

Nationally the average price of filling up has fallen slightly this week with unleaded down to 191.27p per litre from 191.53p last Sunday (July 3) and diesel down to 198.84p from 199.03p, according to motoring organisation RAC.

But the tiny savings are likely to make little difference to motorists filling up at North East forecourts, with many drivers wondering how long it will be before there is a big drop in prices, the RAC said.

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “We are particularly pleased to see that the CMA acknowledges the gap between wholesale and retail prices has been widening in recent weeks.

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“Regardless of the reasons for wholesale prices being what they are, we continue to believe there is clear evidence, not least in the last week, that major retailers are incredibly slow to pass on falling wholesale costs, yet quick to pass on rising ones.

“The idea of allowing drivers to more easily compare pump prices near them may also prove beneficial.

“The question drivers may have, however, is how long the review will take and, crucially, when they might see a change to what they pay every time they fill up.”

Here is a list of the cheapest fuel prices in County Durham and Darlington (as of July 8), according to price comparison website PetrolPrices:

County Durham

  • SHELL A690 – unleaded: 189.9p, diesel: 199.9p
  • Sainsbury’s Durham, Arnison Retail Centre – unleaded: 189.9p, diesel: 198.9p
  • BP Frederick Street North – unleaded: 189.9p, diesel: 199.9p
  • JET Bowburn, A177 – unleaded: 189.9p, diesel: 199.9p
  • ESSO Durham (St. Giles) – unleaded: 190.9p, diesel: 201.9p

Darlington

  • ASDA Darlington Automat – unleaded: 185.7p, diesel: 195.7p
  • Sainsbury’s Darlington – unleaded: 187.9p, diesel: 197.9p
  • SHELL Haughton Road – unleaded: 188.9p, diesel: 197.9p
  • Morrisons Darlington, North Road – unleaded: 189.7p, diesel: 197.7p
  • Morrisons Morton Park – unleaded: 189.7p, diesel: 197.7p

Bishop Auckland

  • JET Etherly Moor Range – unleaded: 184.9p, diesel: 196.9p
  • ASDA Bishop Auckland Automat – unleaded: 185.7p, diesel: 195.7p
  • TESCO Bishop Auckland – unleaded: 186.6p, diesel: 196.9p
  • GULF Park Head Service Station – unleaded: 187.7p, diesel: 198.7p
  • Binchester Service Station – unleaded: 187.8p, diesel: 197.8p

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