Latest news with #RACFuelWatch
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Record
BBC expert says everyone should reverse onto their driveaways
Harry Kind was on BBC Morning Live to share his top tips - and explained why people should park in a certain way A BBC This Morning Live pundit has shed light on the long-debated question amongst drivers - whether reversing into your drive saves more fuel compared to going in forwards. While on the show with presenters Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones, consumer guru Harry Kind disclosed that indeed it could have a notable impact. He revealed that even a slight reduction in speed on motorways could significantly reduce petrol expenses. He appeared on BBC Morning Live as figures from RAC Fuel Watch indicated a 2p decrease in May, presenting the lowest average fuel costs in almost four years. Despite the fall, prices remain high at an average of 132.3p per litre for petrol and diesel at 138.4p. Mr Kind emphasised efficient driving habits as vital to conservation: "What makes a huge difference, way more than the price of fuel, is how you drive. A weird one to start with, which is quite fun, is that you should reverse into your parking space to save fuel." "It doesn't seem like it would save you too much fuel." Cheeky host Gethin Jones said to co-presenter Helen Skelton: "Not if you're attempting it 8-10 times." Helen punched Gethin's arm in reply. Mr Kind emphasised the importance of timing when trying multiple parking attempts: "If you're going to attempt it 8-10 times you're better doing that at the end of your journey, when your engine is nice and warm and efficient it's not wasting too much fuel rather than at the beginning of your journey when starting your car, it's got a cold engine and it can be up to 25 time less efficient than with a warmed up engine. And so if you're going to be faffing around with a parking space do that at the end of your journey when your car's hot not at the beginning." On BBC Morning Live, Helen said: "So I can faff - at the end of the journey." To which Mr Kind added some advice on efficiency: "But I would also say reduce your faffing by combining as many journeys into one as possible. It's better to take on 25 mile journey than 25 one mile journey." BBC Morning Live's 4 fuel saving tips Reverse onto your driveway - your car is more efficient at the end of a journey than at the start for difficult manoeuvres which might need to be carried out a few times (if reversing off with cold engine it would be less efficient) Reducing speed on motorways to 70mph (speed limit) saves 25 per cent Plan journey - do one 25 mile outing rather than multiple trips Close car windows at high speeds to reduce drag He continued with advice on driving speeds: "When you are motoring along I would say reduce your speed. This is one of the biggest factors. The Department for Transport says that going down from 80 to 70 miles per hour saves you 25 per cent on your fuel and also it's not illegal." Further savings can be made by reducing speed even more: "Then when you go down from 70 to 60 that will save you about 9 per cent. The savings get less and less as you get slower and slower." For optimal fuel conservation, Mr Kind advises consistent driving habits: "When you're driving along at those speeds make sure you're going consistent, you're not breaking all the time and ideally use cruise control." Rav Wilding mentioned that his car alerts him when he drives with the windows down, claiming it wastes fuel, and wondered if this was accurate. Mr Kind explained: "It's kind of telling the truth - if you were driving very fast then keeping your windows down will increase drag. That is bad for your car. If you're going slowly your air con is probably going to use a lot more fuel so it would be worth opening the windows on a hot day through a city to get rid of the hot air inside and if you are going to use air con use the recirculation mode. That will keep the cost down, but ultimately going down the motorway with your windows down - not so great."
Sky News
01-05-2025
- Business
- Sky News
Trump's trade war could ease the squeeze on household finances
Why you can trust Sky News The headlines related to Donald Trump's trade war to date have largely all been negative and with total justification. We've heard of the dire impact tariffs are expected to have on the UK and wider global economy from the International Monetary Fund, the toll they are already taking on UK exporters to the United States - especially car, steel and aluminium manufacturers. Jobs, order books and profitability are threatened and stock markets have lost significant ground, knocking pension and investment values. Government borrowing costs have also faced upwards pressure. But from the understandable depths of despair and frustration felt over the president's protectionist path, there are also some unintended positives emerging that may help drive down some big bills for both households and businesses alike in the UK. Oil and fuel The surprise news on Wednesday that the US economy had contracted over the first three months of the year - caused by a dash for imports to beat tariffs - drove a decisive blow to oil prices. They have fallen steadily since Trump 2.0 began in January but the declines accelerated after the " liberation day" tariff bomb was dropped early last month. Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell 15% in April alone and is currently trading at a four-year low of $60. Analysts are now openly talking about the prospects for a $55 level, also aided by signals that Saudi Arabia is going to sell more oil. RAC Fuel Watch data shows average costs of 134.19p-per-litre for unleaded and 140.71p for diesel this week. Its commentary, on both measures, adds simply: "should fall sharply". 6:44 Energy Energy bills have been the main driver of inflation since the 2022 price shock caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It's all linked to the UK's reliance on natural gas to provide power and heat, forcing up not only bills from suppliers but also raising costs across the economy. Expectations of weaker demand, due to the trade war, have helped bring down day-ahead UK wholesale costs by 20% in April alone - by almost 50% since February. Updated forecasts by industry specialist Cornwall Insight last week predicted a 9% decline in the price cap adjustment due to take effect from July and continued declines even into winter. It is likely that July's decrease could be even more meaningful given wholesale costs have continued to fall, in line with longer-term contracts. 2:00 Imports There is a growing swell of opinion that the UK, and others, could become a dumping ground for goods that America has turned her nose up at due to the tariffs. The thinking goes that big exporters, such as China, will just want to sell off products - that should have gone to the US - on the cheap. That is not good for domestic suppliers but it should also place downwards pressure on the pace of inflation. When a member of the Bank of England's rate-setting committee, Meghan Greene, signed up to this theory in remarks last week (on the basis that the UK does not retaliate to Trump's tariffs), it prompted financial markets to fully price in an interest rate cut on 8 May. Interest rates Interest rates are the medicine, deployed by the Bank, to help keep inflation in check. By raising borrowing costs, or keeping them higher, you look to lower demand in the economy to cool price growth. Should fuel and energy bills fall substantially given the recent trends, and wage growth continue to ease amid shaky confidence in the economic outlook, pressure on policymakers to keep Bank rate elevated falls away. Financial markets are currently seeing almost four interest rate cuts to come this year. That would take Bank rate from 4.5% to 3.5% by December.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump's trade war could ease the squeeze on household finances
The headlines related to Donald Trump's trade war to date have largely all been negative and with total justification. We've heard of the dire impact tariffs are expected to have on the UK and wider global economy from the International Monetary Fund, the toll they are already taking on UK exporters to the United States - especially car, steel and aluminium manufacturers. Jobs, order books and profitability are threatened and stock markets have lost significant ground, knocking pension and investment values. Money latest: Government borrowing costs have also faced upwards pressure. But from the understandable depths of despair and frustration felt over the president's protectionist path, there are also some unintended positives emerging that may help drive down some big bills for both households and businesses alike in the UK. Oil and fuel The surprise news on Wednesday that the US economy had contracted over the first three months of the year - caused by a dash for imports to beat tariffs - drove a decisive blow to oil prices. They have fallen steadily since Trump 2.0 began in January but the declines accelerated after the "liberation day" tariff bomb was dropped early last month. Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell 15% in April alone and is currently trading at a four-year low of $60. Analysts are now openly talking about the prospects for a $55 level, also aided by signals that Saudi Arabia is going to sell more oil. RAC Fuel Watch data shows average costs of 134.19p-per-litre for unleaded and 140.71p for diesel this week. Its commentary, on both measures, adds simply: "should fall sharply". Energy Energy bills have been the main driver of inflation since the 2022 price shock caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It's all linked to the UK's reliance on natural gas to provide power and heat, forcing up not only bills from suppliers but also raising costs across the economy. Expectations of weaker demand, due to the trade war, have helped bring down day-ahead UK wholesale costs by 20% in April alone - by almost 50% since February. Updated forecasts by industry specialist Cornwall Insight last week predicted a 9% decline in the price cap adjustment due to take effect from July and continued declines even into winter. It is likely that July's decrease could be even more meaningful given wholesale costs have continued to fall, in line with longer-term contracts. Imports There is a growing swell of opinion that the UK, and others, could become a dumping ground for goods that America has turned her nose up at due to the tariffs. The thinking goes that big exporters, such as China, will just want to sell off products - that should have gone to the US - on the cheap. That is not good for domestic suppliers but it should also place downwards pressure on the pace of inflation. When a member of the Bank of England's rate-setting committee, Meghan Greene, signed up to this theory in remarks last week (on the basis that the UK does not retaliate to Trump's tariffs), it prompted financial markets to fully price in an interest rate cut on 8 May. Interest rates Interest rates are the medicine, deployed by the Bank, to help keep inflation in check. By raising borrowing costs, or keeping them higher, you look to lower demand in the economy to cool price growth. Should fuel and energy bills fall substantially given the recent trends, and wage growth continue to ease amid shaky confidence in the economic outlook, pressure on policymakers to keep Bank rate elevated falls away. Read more:UK figures show Trump's tariff argument doesn't add upWhat are Trump's tariffs and how do they affect the UK? Financial markets are currently seeing almost four interest rate cuts to come this year. That would take Bank rate from 4.5% to 3.5% by December. Such a cut, alongside reductions to fuel and energy bills, would represent a big win for households and businesses alike in very uncertain and expensive times.
The Independent
28-02-2025
- The Independent
Motorhome and campervan holidays: How to book on a budget
A holiday on wheels combines the comfort of a hotel with open-road freedom. Motorhome and campervan holidays offer a unique blend of convenience and adventure, appealing to those seeking flexibility without sacrificing modern amenities. And with deals starting from just £59 per night, this style of holiday offers an affordable way to explore. However, with rising fuel costs looming, careful planning is crucial for keeping these trips budget-friendly. Here, travel experts offer valuable advice about how to keep costs low - from travelling during off-peak seasons to strategically refuelling at dawn or dusk. Have a plan 'Think about how many people are travelling, the route you plan to take, what storage you may need and how comfortable you are driving to determine what size of vehicle you need,' recommends Leanne Cromie, marketing manager for rental sites Bunk Campers and Just Go Motorhomes. 'Holiday makers can benefit from great rates for travelling April to June or September to October whilst still benefiting from the bright nights across the UK and Ireland.' Pick the right petrol provider and monitor fuel consumption 'RAC Fuel Watch monitors British wholesale and pump prices daily to point motorists towards the cheapest rates,' says Max Schmidt, head of aggregate motorhome and caravan holiday site CamperDays. 'Right now, Tesco offers on average the cheapest supermarket petrol, while drivers can also secure good deals from non-supermarket petrol brands like Essar or Shell. 'Early in the morning or late at night is the best time to buy fuel as prices tend to be cheaper at these times. This is because fuel pumps dispense volume-calibrated fuel, meaning you gain a fraction more petrol for your money.' Pack efficiently 'With the absence of luggage restrictions, there's a tendency to overpack on a road trip, but just because you can pack your life into a campervan, doesn't mean you should,' warns Schmidt. 'Lower weight undoubtedly reduces fuel burn, leading to savings. 'Other ways to reduce weight in a campervan is to keep the freshwater tank as low as possible while driving. Fresh water is readily available at campsites and service stations for regular top ups as required.' Use the AC wisely 'Turning on the air conditioning when natural air is readily available outside seems counterproductive, but rolling the windows down doesn't always lead to savings,' says Schmidt. 'At fast speeds, such as when driving on the motorway, driving with the windows open causes drag, eating unnecessarily into the fuel reserves. 'Keep windows and doors shut and AC on moderate to strike the right balance between comfort and efficiency. At slower speeds, however, it's advised to switch off the AC and roll the windows down, allowing a slow and steady breeze to pass through the vehicle.' Try a motorhome relocation deal Motorhome relocation deals are a great way to enjoy a driving holiday on budget. Rental sites Bunk Campers and Just Go both offer motorhome relocation deals across the UK and Ireland from £5 per night. 'Every April, we hold a motorhome factory relocation trip from Italy to the UK,' advises Cromie. 'Collect a brand new campervan or motorhome from Tuscany, Italy and enjoy a 10-night driving holiday back to the UK or Ireland from £525.'
