Petrol sales plummet 1 billion less barrels sold in 2011

Petrol sales fell significantly during the first three quarters of 2011, according to research conducted by motoring association the AA. And this was no drip drip. On the contrary the AA figures suggest that motorists bought 2.4 billion fewer litres of petrol than the same period in 2008. Total sales of 13.9 billion litres in the first nine months of 2011, a billion litres less than the year before. And drivers are resolved to cut back further during 2012. With petrol prices being a key indicator of miles driven in the UK, the figures have the potential to impact the amount of tyres purchased (sell out) in the tyre market.

This was also borne out by the AA research. Nearly 40 per cent of those surveyed said they will either drive more economically (26%) or drive less often (12%) in 2012, according to an AA Populus poll of 20,181 AA members – one of the biggest responses ever from the survey panel.

Lower income drivers particularly affected

The response from lower-income drivers emphasises how much harder they have been hit by record pump prices. While 37 per cent of professionals and senior managers say they will drive less often or more economically, that rises to 40 per cent for socio-economic groups that include skilled and unskilled manual and service workers, pensioners and the unemployed. A higher percentage of unskilled workers, pensioners and unemployed (14%) will drive less often in 2012 than top and middle-level managers and professionals (11%).

Government statistics (Energy Trends December 2011) show that UK diesel retail sales are up 0.5 billion litres compared to the same period in 2008, although sales direct to company depots are down 8.1 per cent during Jan-Sept 2010 compared to Jan-Sept 2008. It is thought that many companies now buy their diesel direct from fuel station forecourts.

Even after UK average petrol prices fell away from the record highs in May (137.43p a litre), sales declined more quickly. Compared to 2010, there were 348.4 million fewer litres of petrol sold in the second quarter of 2011, but this drop escalated to 435.5 million litres in the third.

Regionally, the South West and Northern Ireland are most resolved to cut back on car use, both with 41 per cent of AA members saying that they aim to drive more economically or less often. Least determined are those in London with 35 per cent

“Drivers are clearly being forced into cutting their motoring by the high price of fuel and, for many, this will impose difficult constraints on their lives. We have reached the stage where motoring is once again only easily affordable for the better off and, with the car still the mainstay means of travel for the majority, that is depressing news at the start of 2012,” said Paul Watters, head of AA Public Affairs.

“The impact of high fuel prices on ordinary drivers is staggering with just over a quarter of those choosing a new-year resolution saying they would drive more economically and a further one in 10 intending to drive less. This far exceeded the 12 per cent going for road safety-related resolutions, perhaps because the cost of motoring threatens the way they live their lives.”

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