Where your money goes

UK fuel prices August 2026

Last updated .

UK petrol averaged 161.4p a litre in August 2026, of which 79.9p was tax (49%) and 42.4p was crude oil. The price rose from 159.9p in the week to 3 August 2026 to 161.6p in the week to 31 August 2026.

Every week in August 2026

UK petrol price decomposition, August 2026, pence per litre
Week toPump priceCrudeMarginDutyVAT
3 August 2026159.941.638.752.9526.6
10 August 2026162.243.139.052.9527.0
17 August 2026161.842.939.052.9527.0
24 August 2026161.642.839.052.9526.9
31 August 2026161.641.740.152.9526.9

What was happening

Brent averaged $91 a barrel over the month and the pound bought $1.354. Fuel duty was 52.95p a litre throughout. The refining and retail margin averaged 39.1p.

Where these figures come from

Pump prices are the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero's weekly UK average, with the duty and VAT rates DESNZ published alongside each week. Crude is Brent converted at that week's exchange rate. The full method is on the methodology page, and the underlying series are downloadable.