2p fuel duty outrage sees record visitors to PetrolPrices.com
25th November 2008
(Aldershot, UK) PetrolPrices.com is experiencing record visitor figures following a blog post about the 2p fuel duty increase introduced in yesterday's pre-budget report.
The blog, explaining how the 2p duty increase would be permanent, has had in excess of 6000 comments from motorists venting their frustrations, and 25,000 votes in the accompanying poll at the time of writing.
On average, the blog is currently receiving 25 comments and 80 votes per minute.
By 3pm today the site had registered over 90,000 unique visitors, smashing the previous record of 77,000 unique visits during one day set last November. The previous visitor record was also as a result of blog about a proposed 2p fuel duty increase.
The total number of unique visits is predicted to top 130,000 by the end of today.
A selection of comments:
The worst part of this is the hidden effect. Companies can claim back VAT on fuel. They can't claim fuel duty back. So by moving the 2p from VAT to fuel duty, it is 2p companies can't claim. Again the hauliers are penalised, which means prices in shops remain high. Gayle Paris
It is my thought that the high prices at the pump have been one of the major determinants of the recession. The cost of production and transport have greatly influenced rising prices and ultimately what people can afford to spend. The Government would like to blame the price of oil but I believe their taxes are as significant. Gary Ellis
The reduction in VAT will have NO EFFECT WHATEVER in persuading the public to rush out and start buying. There should therefore have been NO NEED to pay for such a daft change - and to clobber the motorist, yet again, is typical of this Government. The motorist is seen as an "easy target". When will it end?! Brian Greenaway
You can view the full list of comments on the blog here:
http://www.petrolprices.com/blog/fuel-prices-to-rise-as-motorist-hit-with-p-duty-increase-106.html
"The sheer number of people visiting the site, commenting on the blog and voting in our poll shows the strength of public opinion on the changes to fuel tax in the pre-budget report. Everyone knows that fuel, food and housing are the highest outgoings for most people. If the government wants to give the economy a shot in the arm why are they not dealing with both of these areas specifically? The VAT cut is welcome but VAT on top of duty is fundamentally wrong and the government should look again urgently at the way it taxes fuel."
~ Brendan McLoughlin, Founder, PetrolPrices.com.
---Notes to editors
Where possible, please link to PetrolPrices.com in online articles.
Prices are updated each weekday between 11am and 12pm. Prices are collected the previous day using fuel card transactions in petrol stations to gather an average price for each station.
Petrolprices.com is the only free fuel price comparison website with reliable data and regular updates. It allows consumers to search for the cheapest stations in their area, with potential savings of 20p a litre.
87% of 5000 users surveyed in September 2007 claimed the site saves them over £100 per year. As fuel prices rise the potential savings grow because the spread between the lowest and highest prices stations widens.
PetrolPrices.com is one of 100 money-saving websites from www.Fubra.com. Check out our house price sites - www.OurProperty.co.uk and www.HousePriceCrash.co.uk.
If you would like fuel price data, including local info, please contact us.
--
Louise Doherty
Spokesperson
PetrolPrices.com
e:
w: www.petrolprices.com
p: 01252 367208
m: 07525264999