Petrol prices will edge closer to a record high on Thursday when motorists will be hit with a 1p a litre fuel duty increase.
The rise will take prices from an average of 117.8p a litre to just under 119p – almost up to the record of 119.7p reached in 2008.
The pain could have been even greater for road users if Chancellor Alistair Darling had not decided to introduce the near-3p fuel duty rise – scheduled for April 1 – in three stages.
Drivers will now pay an extra 1p tomorrow, a further 1p in October and another 0.76p next January.
RAC motoring strategist Adrian Tink said: "Motorists are currently seeing petrol prices rise on a daily basis. This fuel duty increase is only going to add to the misery as motorists see their hard-earned cash swallowed up at the pumps.
The fuel duty rise will mean that petrol has risen by 11p a litre since the start of the year.The RAC said this equated to around £121 extra in fuel costs for the average car.