AA say that fuel sales continue to decline – sales down half a billion litres in second quarter
Petrol sales in the UK continued their steady decline during the first half of this year, the AA confirms from new government statistics*.
Following a temporary lift in forecourt volumes during the first quarter, caused by panic buying during the tanker drivers’ dispute, the drop in petrol retail sales returned with a vengeance in the second.
Petrol sales between January and March 2012 had reversed a long-term fall, up by 119.8 million litres compared to the same period in 2011. However, between April and June, they crashed 496.8 million litres compared to last year’s second quarter.
This is despite the tanker drivers’ dispute being resolved, pump prices falling away from record highs in mid April and the start of summer motoring.