THE wholesale price of diesel is now on a par with petrol yet diesel is still being sold for 17.5p a litre more on average at forecourts across the UK.

The average price of petrol stands at 146.63p while diesel is 164.26p, despite both fuels selling for around 114.5p on the wholesale market. In fact, on two days last week wholesale diesel was cheaper than petrol.

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “The forecourt price disparity between petrol and diesel across the UK is absolutely shocking given their wholesale prices are now virtually identical.

“At the beginning of March wholesale diesel was only 6p more expensive than petrol yet there was a 20p a litre gap between both fuels on the forecourt.

"Now the two fuels are identical on the wholesale market, and there’s still more than 17p difference at the pump.

“For retailers to be taking a margin of nearly 20p a litre on average throughout March, compared to the long-term average of 7p, is devastating for every driver and business that relies on diesel.

“The price of a litre of diesel should have already come down to around 152p, and now the wholesale price is the same as petrol at 114p we really should soon be seeing forecourts displaying prices of 147p.

"Sadly, this seems unlikely given current retailer behaviour. Instead, the big four supermarkets, which dominate UK fuel retailing, are charging an outrageous of 162p a litre on average.

“As the supermarkets buy so frequently they have had plenty of time to pass on the lower prices they are benefitting from on the wholesale market to drivers at the pumps, but they remain totally resolute in their refusal to cut their prices substantially which is nothing short of scandalous, particularly in a cost-of-living crisis."

To help you get the best deal, we've compiled the cheapest stations across Carlisle and west Cumbria according to PetrolPrices.com.

Prices are subject to change and this is a user-updated app, so these prices may not be the most up-to-date at the time of reading, but are correct at the time of writing based on the app.

Egremont and Whitehaven

Morrisons Whitehaven at 143.7p and diesel at 159.7p
Applegreen Whitehaven at 143.8p and diesel at 159.8p

Workington

Morrisons Workington at 142.7p and diesel at 159.7p
ASDA Workington at 142.7p and diesel at 159.7p

Maryport

ASDA Workington at 142.7p and diesel at 159.7p
Shell Maryport at 142.9p and diesel at 164.9p

Carlisle

ASDA Carlisle Automat at 141.7p and diesel at 159.7p
Sainsbury's Carlisle  at 141.9p and diesel at 158.7p

Brampton

BP Corby Hill at 145.9p and diesel at 159.9p
Shell Brampton at 146.9p and diesel at 161.9p

Wigton

BP Wigton at 145.9p and diesel at 159.9p

Penrith

Morrisons Penrith at 145.9p and diesel at 159.9p
BP Scotland Road at 145.9p and diesel at 159.9p