UK petrol prices hit highest point in nearly four years

UK petrol averaged 161.6p a litre in late August 2026 — the highest since November 2022, when war in Ukraine shook fuel markets, the AA reports. Diesel reached 183.4p. Oil now costs $89.63 a barrel, up from about $72 before the Iran conflict. The RAC predicts record holiday traffic, with 4.1 million cars expected Friday alone.