Petrol pump shortages are being warned of ahead of the Easter weekend, as drivers are likely to try and fill up twice to try in a battle against the ‘eye-watering’ prices.
As it is estimated that 22million journeys will be made across the four-day Bank Holiday weekend, retail experts are warning that the high demand could result in diesel shortages within weeks.
It could be made worse by drivers trying to beat the steep price rises caused by the ongoing US-Israel and Iran conflict, by filling up both before and after their journeys to mitigate further price rises.
Yesterday, the price of one litre of diesel hit 185.23p on average, according to the RAC – a 30 per cent increase since the US began attacks on Iran in February. Petrol, meanwhile, hit 154.45p – a hike of 16 per cent.
Simon Williams, the head of policy at the RAC, said drivers travelling this Easter weekend would face ‘truly eye-watering prices’.
He said: ‘March has been truly unprecedented – fuel prices have never risen this fast in a single month.
‘The increases drivers have had to endure in March 2026 far exceed those seen in the early days of the war in Ukraine.
‘With long-term RAC research showing eight in ten people are dependent on their vehicles, these costs must really be taking their toll on households, as well as businesses.’
John Wright
Retailers are growing increasingly concerned that stocks will fall in the coming weeks if the Strait of Hormuz blockade continues, which is preventing the safe passage of oil and petrol.
The UK is not expected to completely run out diesel, but supplies could drop by more than 10 per cent by mid-April.
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