Posted on July 22, 2008 by Fiona Hilliard

UK car hire drivers popping to the shops for a pint of milk will be adding petrol to their shopping lists over the next few weeks as supermarkets across the UK launch a price war on petrol.  Three of Britain’s biggest chains are cutting the cost of unleaded and diesel by up to 5p (7c) a litre. 

Sainsbury’ s said it was cutting petrol by 5p a litre from Thursday for customers who spent £50 (€63) or more in stores.  The promotion will last for two weeks. 

Asda and Morrisons said they were responding to the recent drop in the price of oil.  The price of a barrel of oil dropped from a peak of 147 dollars to 130 dollars in recent weeks. 

Asda said all 170 of its petrol stations across the country would sell unleaded petrol for 113.9p a litre and diesel for 128.9p a litre. 

Commenting on the petrol price blitz, Asda trading director David Miles said:  “We’re seeing a more stable reduction in oil prices, allowing us to pass on the savings to customers.  We urge other retailers to follow our lead at a time when customers need as much as possible.”