"Winter Of Misery" Awaits UK Drivers - Diesel Already 1 £/Liter, Unleaded Nearly There

The AA warned motorists last night that they face a “winter of misery” as petrol prices rose to their highest levels. Unleaded petrol reached an average of 98.57p per litre, exceeding last year’s record of 98.54p. Diesel is also at a record price of 101.29p.

Hundreds of petrol stations across the UK are charging more than £1 a litre and the AA said that motorists were spending £8.6 million more each day than in February, when fuel prices started to climb. The motoring organisation added that the average cost of unleaded petrol could pass the symbolic £1 a litre mark within weeks, given the spiralling price of crude oil.

EDIT

Prices have moved to within reach of £1 a litre before, most notably during the fuel protests of 2000 and after Hurricane Katrina two years ago. However, the AA said that without fierce competition from supermarkets the average pump price would already have passed this level.

Kevin Hawkins, director-general of the British Retail Consortium, said that the price surge could put further strain on high street stores before Christmas, given the growing pressures on consumers. He said: “It all depends how long oil prices remain at these levels. But what is happening to petrol is worrying and it’s something we could well do without.”

EDIT

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/article2774358.ece

So, with a liter at about .26 US gallons, and the pound at about $2.06 this fine Halloween morning, that's about $8.25/gallon.

You can put all of the British Isles into Oregon.

They have no clue what it costs to commute!

:P

(PS: You might be surprised about the commute costs but you'd definitely
have something to learn about the ways Europeans respond to them.)
:hi:

with their wasteful cars, suburban sprawl and "non-negotiable lifestyles."

It's going to be a very interesting decade.....