RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “While there has been much focus on fuel since the Competition and Markets Authority concluded the biggest retailers had overcharged drivers by £900m in 2022, margins are once again staying persistently high – and drivers are paying the price.

“Our data clearly shows that pump prices haven’t fallen in line with the reduction in wholesale prices, so drivers across the UK – with the exception of those in Northern Ireland where fairer prices are charged – are once again losing several pounds every time they fill up.”

But the Petrol Retailer’s Association (PRA) said comparing current fuel margins to historical figures overlooks “several critical factors”.

“We must consider the significant increases in operating costs, reduced fuel volumes post-pandemic, and the substantial investments required to transition to a low-carbon transportation system,” said Gordon Balmer, the PRA’s executive director.

“These factors mean that fuel retailers need to earn more from fuel sales to stay in business and invest in the future.”

He added that forecourts are “ideally suited” to electric vehicle charging points, and many PRA members were investing in these “despite the slower-than-anticipated uptake of electric vehicles and the long payback periods for such investments”.