Major retailers are failing to reduce petrol prices in line with falling wholesale costs, the RAC has warned.

The roadside recovery firm said the wholesale cost of unleaded – the price when it arrives at forecourts – is now back down to its early May price of 131.75p per litre, which saw average pump prices of around 167p per litre.

Right now, the average price is 178.93p per litre. Last week, when the RAC issued its warning, the average price of unleaded was almost 183p.

The wholesale cost of petrol has fallen by 20p since early June, according to the RAC.

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Yet UK retailers continued to increase their prices in June and only dropped their pump prices by an average of 9p during July, the organisation said.

The “big four” supermarkets – Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s, along with several other suppliers – have faced criticism for failing to reduce their prices in line with falling wholesale costs.

The RAC said that, while several reduced their prices last week, the cuts are not enough to be in line with the wholesale cost.

So looking at latest data, The Northern Echo has put together a list of the cheapest fuel stations in County Durham and Darlington as of Monday afternoon.

Darlington

• ASDA Darlington – petrol: 172.7p, diesel: 185.7p

• JET Darlington Road (Newton Park) – petrol: 174.9p, diesel: 186.9p

• ESSO Stockton Road – petrol: 176.9p, diesel: 1.89.9p

• Sainsbury's – petrol: 173.9p, diesel: 186.9p

• BP Stockton Road – 176.9p, diesel: 189.9p

Durham city

• Esso Durham (St Giles) – petrol: 175.9p, diesel: 189.9p

• Sainsbury's Durham – petrol: 176.9p, diesel: 1.89p

• Gulf A690 (Bells Hill) – petrol: 174.9p, diesel: 186.9p

• BP Frederick Street North – petrol: 174.9p, diesel: 185.9p

• Jet A177 (Bowburn) – petrol: 179.9p, diesel: 192.9p

Bishop Auckland, Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor

• Jet B6282 (Etherley Moor) – petrol: 167.9p, diesel: 179.9p

• ASDA Bishop Auckland – petrol: 169.7p, diesel: 183.7p

• ASDA Spennymoor – petrol: 172.7p, diesel: 183.7p

• Sainsbury's Bishop Auckland – petrol: 169.9p, diesel: 183.9p

• Jet Staindrop Road – petrol: 170.9p, diesel: 183.9p Chester-le-Street (including Washington and Team Valley)

• Sainsbury's Team Valley – petrol: 175.9p, diesel: 187.9p

• Sainsbury's Durham – petrol: 176.9p, diesel: 189.9p

• ESSO North View Terrace – petrol: 168.9p, diesel: 188.9p

• Sainsbury's Washington – petrol: 174.9p, diesel: 186.9p

• Jet Quarry Row – petrol: 168.9p, diesel: 117.9p

Seaham and Peterlee (including Sunderland)

• ASDA Sunderland – petrol: 173.9p, diesel: 183.7p

• Sainsbury's Sunderland – petrol: 174.9p, diesel: 184.9p

• Shell Ryhope Road – petrol: 174.9p, diesel: 184.9p

• Jet Seaham – petrol: 177.9p, diesel: 184.9p

• Morrisons Doxford Park – petrol: 173.9p, diesel: 183.7p

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