Some Retailers Not Passing on Wholesale Fuel Price Falls Quickly Enough – CMA
The watchdog said 1,166 warning letters and 53 compliance notices have been issued since April over delays and Fuel Finder registration failures.
- The CMA warned hundreds of retailers for failing to pass on wholesale fuel price drops quickly enough, citing 'passive pricing strategies' that keep profit margins high amid cost pressures from the war in Iran.
- Fuel prices remain significantly higher than before the Middle East conflict, prompting the CMA to issue 1,166 warning letters and 53 compliance notices since April to operators failing to register with the Government-run Fuel Finder service.
- Around 97% of petrol stations are now registered with the price-comparison scheme, accounting for about 99% of fuel sold, though the Competition and Markets Authority has not yet issued any fines for non-compliance.
- Edmund King, President of the AA, noted "clearly, some fuel retailers are prepared to pass on lower costs promptly," but many more are not, hindering efforts to fight back against stubbornly high petrol and diesel prices.
- Chief Executive Sarah Cardell confirmed the CMA will "actively monitor" the market, carrying out a detailed review in autumn to ensure customers pay a fair price and wholesale reductions reach drivers.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Fuel stations 'not taking advantage' of Iran war despite near-record petrol and diesel prices
A new report has warned that there is a lack of effective competition between petrol stations around the UK, impacting fuel prices paid by drivers.The latest monitoring report from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has assessed the impact that the war in the Middle East has had on fuel prices and margins.Fresh data until the end of June 2026 revealed that there was no evidence that retailers actively changed their pricing strategies to…
Retailers too slow in passing wholesale fuel price reduction, says CMA
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published its latest road fuel monitoring report, setting out how the conflict in the Middle East has affected what drivers pay at the pump. The report also assesses fuel margins, the difference between the price petrol stations pay for fuel and the price they sell it at and provides an update on Fuel Finder registration and enforcement. In its previous report, published in June, the CMA found that…
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