Petrol sales plummet as prices climb

Aurora · Post by **Aurora** » 31 Mar 2011, 18:16

The Independent - 31/03/11

Sales of petrol at the pumps have dipped sharply over recent years, according to Government figures highlighted today by the AA.

In terms of weight, petrol sales fell 13.95% between 2007 and 2010.

Sales totalled more than 16.80 million tonnes in 2007 but by last year this figure had fallen to just over 14.46 million tonnes.

Diesel sales rose - going up 6.85% from 12.34 million tonnes in 2007 to 13.19 million tonnes in 2010.

The 2007/10 fall in petrol sales is the equivalent of 3.19 billion litres - equal to 52 days of petrol consumption in the UK.

Article continues ...

madibe · Post by **madibe** » 01 Apr 2011, 00:44

Perhaps it is time Johnny and Jessica learnt to walk to school

Silas · Post by **Silas** » 01 Apr 2011, 08:57

If less fuel is being brought and therefore burned, supplies will last marginally longer and cost a bit less, demand destruction? We shall see. I find Im not really noticing much change around Cambridgeshire, loads of 4X4s and jags, everyone still flying down the motor-way and B roads queuing to overtake me, whilst I cruise along at 65 and 55-mph respectively. I think it will take rationing and a 55-mph speed limit too slow the buggers down, cost seems to be having little effect here!
But I will add Cambridge is a bit of an economic bubble, and we all know what happens to bubbles!

PS_RalphW · Post by **PS_RalphW** » 01 Apr 2011, 10:46

Today my employer is announcing the latest round of redundancies, down from 38 to 28. Hopefully I will still be here by midday...

Cambridge is not immune.

featherstick · Post by **featherstick** » 01 Apr 2011, 14:07

I've noticed people driving more slowly on motorways, and less congestion in general, but also still plenty of lardy fatfaces leaving their engines running in the carpark while they stuff a sandwich into their face. Might be a Medway thing, that, though.

Blue Peter · Post by **Blue Peter** » 01 Apr 2011, 14:12

RalphW wrote:Today my employer is announcing the latest round of redundancies, down from 38 to 28. Hopefully I will still be here by midday...

Cambridge is not immune.

So....are you?

Peter.

PS_RalphW · Post by **PS_RalphW** » 01 Apr 2011, 15:11

Still here, back from the pub after commiserating with the less fortunate.

PaulS · Post by **PaulS** » 01 Apr 2011, 19:24

14% reduction over 3 years is substantial and more to the point, that rate of decrease would match oil well depletion rates.

In the past we were generally of the opinion that demand destruction in oil wold be minimal because it is so essential to our civilisation, bau. Maybe we were wrong.

I wonder how that plays out in the other sectors: electricity and heating.

Post by **adam2** » 01 Apr 2011, 19:53

It could be argued that the real fall is only about 6 or 7% because diesel sales have increased.
Substituting diesel for petrol is not really demand destruction as both are derived from the same crude oil.
I also suspect that more red diesel and heating oil is being illegaly used on the road which would distort the figures.

rue_d_etropal · Post by **rue_d_etropal** » 01 Apr 2011, 20:10

I think Customs and Excise are still working very hard to catch those using red diesel. I think more people might be tempted to use cooking oil as a substitute.

mobbsey · Post by **mobbsey** » 01 Apr 2011, 20:54

rue_d_etropal wrote:I think Customs and Excise are still working very hard to catch those using red diesel. I think more people might be tempted to use cooking oil as a substitute.

The police in south Wales dip the tanks of people they suspect are using untaxed or homebrew biodiesel -- it's a routine part of the police check when they stop a car.

Personally, I've weaned myself off the stuff. I don't drive, but I used petrol for my primus stove. About three years ago the boiler pipe clogged; I didn't have time to fix it right away so I used my storm kettle and started to cook over stick fires. I cleaned and serviced the stove a couple of months later; but I still haven't used it because I prefer the stick fires! -- they're far more versatile and smell much nicer.

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 02 Apr 2011, 01:17

RalphW wrote:Still here, back from the pub after commiserating with the less fortunate.

Powerswitchers are more resilient

PS_RalphW · Post by **PS_RalphW** » 02 Apr 2011, 09:10

Its a subtle balance of selecting a relatively recession proof job, keeping your head down, and quietly making yourself an indispensible part of the infrastructure. Not asking for pay rises too often, but knowing when to jump.

PaulS · Post by **PaulS** » 02 Apr 2011, 11:40

adam2 wrote:It could be argued that the real fall is only about 6 or 7% because diesel sales have increased.
Substituting diesel for petrol is not really demand destruction as both are derived from the same crude oil.
I also suspect that more red diesel and heating oil is being illegaly used on the road which would distort the figures.

Good points.
Is there a source for current energy production/ sales across the economy?

Pepperman · Post by **Pepperman** » 02 Apr 2011, 11:49

adam2 wrote:It could be argued that the real fall is only about 6 or 7% because diesel sales have increased.
Substituting diesel for petrol is not really demand destruction as both are derived from the same crude oil.
I also suspect that more red diesel and heating oil is being illegaly used on the road which would distort the figures.

Yes this is true that diesel has offset some of this decline. But they're both heading down now:

http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/s ... l/oil.aspx