Asda has been named the most expensive UK supermarket to buy fuel from, following data published by motoring organisation RAC.
RAC used data gathered by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and found Asda charged an average 2.1p per litre more for unleaded petrol than Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons at the end of May, and this rose further for diesel, with prices as 2.5p per litre more.
The supermarket sells petrol from its supermarket in Arnold and also from its Express store in Mapperley.
RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said: “It’s interesting to see that Asda no longer holds the crown for selling the cheapest fuel, despite the pledge made when it was subject to a merger a year ago.”
“The other three major supermarkets, as well as some enterprising independents, now offer lower prices.”
Last year, the CMA said that Asda’s £600m takeover of 132 Co-op petrol stations “could increase prices” or mean less choice for consumers as it raised competition concerns.
However, in its defence, Asda told the CMA that competition concerns would not arise in these areas because the merger would allow it to bring its low-cost pricing model to more customers.
An Asda spokesperson told Grocery Gazette: “We remain focused on providing our customers with the best value at the pumps as we grow in the convenience sector. In May, we reduced the price of unleaded and diesel by a combined average of 2.31p per litre.”
Last year Asda became the first supermarket to publish local fuel prices online, allowing motorists to check the price of petrol or diesel before they travel to one of the supermarkets filling stations.
