Rising fuel prices could force some drivers to cut back on essential journeys, including hospital visits, as the escalating oil price crisis continues to drive up costs at the pump, according to new research from campaign group FairFuelUK.
The survey of more than 37,000 drivers found that 11.9 percent of respondents expect they may need to reduce the frequency of regular hospital treatment or doctor visits if gasoline and diesel prices continue to rise sharply. Activists warn that a continued rise in fuel costs could have serious knock-on effects on both household finances and broader economic activity.
According to the FairFuelUK Fuel Price Crisis Survey, petrol prices have already risen by almost 10p per liter on average since the start of the recent oil market turmoil, while diesel has risen by almost 14p per litre. The increases come amid ongoing volatility in global energy markets and concerns about disruption to oil supplies.
Motorists who took part in the survey said that if fuel prices rise by more than 20p per liter on average, many households would begin to significantly reduce their daily spending to cope with rising transport costs. FairFuelUK warns that such behavioral changes could have wider economic consequences, potentially slowing consumer spending and increasing the risk of a recession.
The results suggest that rising pump prices would quickly impact household budgeting decisions. More than 70 percent of drivers said they would cut back on hobbies, dining out and entertainment if prices continued to rise, while nearly 60 percent said they would reduce spending on branded groceries.
More than half of respondents said they would prefer to fill up at supermarket forecourts in search of cheaper fuel, while just over half said they would downsize the size of their regular grocery store. Around 41 percent said they would work from home more often to avoid commuting costs, and almost 38 percent would consider using public transportation more often.
However, the research also highlights the potential impact on social and essential travel. Almost a quarter of drivers said they would limit visits to family and friends, while the proportion of respondents who said they could reduce hospital visits caused particular concern among campaigners.
Howard Cox, founder of FairFuelUK, said the government should take immediate action to ease pressure on motorists and prevent rising fuel costs from impacting inflation and weaker economic growth.
He argued that a fuel tax cut could help stabilize prices and protect both consumers and businesses from further economic stress.
“Rachel Reeves could curb inflationary pressures and protect the economy from recession by cutting the fuel tax now and promising to eliminate any increases to this regressive tax during the term of this Parliament,” Cox said.
He added that British motorists face the highest fuel taxes in the world and argued that reducing the burden would help boost consumer spending and reduce operating costs for small businesses.
“The world’s most heavily taxed drivers deserve relief from the high cost of a vital resource, and the economy needs a boost from higher consumer spending and lower costs for small businesses,” he said.
Cox also called for broader reforms to fuel prices, including the abolition of VAT on fuel duty, which activists call a form of double taxation, and the introduction of stricter monitoring of pump prices through a strengthened regulatory framework.
The FairFuelUK survey also examined motorists’ perceptions of how fuel retailers have responded to recent wholesale price movements. When asked if they had observed prices at the pumps increase significantly before wholesale costs rose, 43.1 percent of respondents said they had noticed an increase at their usual gas station, while more than half said they were unsure.
Among those who believed prices had risen prematurely, 83.7 percent said major oil companies such as Shell, BP, Esso and Texaco have the highest pump prices and increase them on existing fuel supplies.
It was widely believed that supermarket petrol stations offered the lowest prices overall, although some respondents reported that supermarkets such as Asda and Tesco had implemented some of the fastest price increases.
Campaigners say the findings underscore drivers’ growing concerns about transparency in the fuel supply chain and the speed with which retail prices respond to fluctuations in wholesale costs.
FairFuelUK is calling on ministers to introduce a so-called robust “PumpWatch” system to monitor prices across the fuel supply chain and impose significant fines if companies are found to be making a profit.
As global energy markets remain volatile and geopolitical tensions continue to impact oil supplies, motorists and businesses must prepare for further uncertainty at the pump in the coming months.
