Good news we can all enjoy!

Graham_Devon

Nearly half a billion fewer litres of petrol and diesel were sold between April and June than during the same period last year, says the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

The reduction came despite a fall in fuel prices during the period.

It followed a big rise in the amount of petrol bought at the beginning of the year when the threat of a tanker drivers' strike led to panic buying.

The AA motoring organisation called it a "huge drop."

The figures show that overall more than two billion fewer litres of petrol and diesel were sold compared with the same period in 2008.

A fall in the sales of petrol and diesel is excellent news.

This is no doubt due to a combination of several factors. More fuel efficient transport, people planning more and wasting less. It's great for any green issues. I even head that business is getting ever better at saving fuel costs by re-thinking how they run their business.

I don't see any reason to try and keep consuming what we were consuming.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19810276

squeeks

I've got at least 25l sitting in the car and probably worth more than the car itself. Any drop in value is a disaster... We need rising petrol prices for the good of the economy!

Oh wait, that only applies to houses...

squeeks

In all seriousness, I do think this is good news. Any reduction in use or the dependancy of a non-renewable resource has to be a good thing. May not be so good for the tax receipts...

I am waiting for them to introduce riding licences, road tax and compulsory cycle ridding insurance for cyclists. Closely followed by the pedestrian toll paths and similar schemes.

JWF

I agree that it is good news, after all there is only so much oil in the world and to waste it is crazy - better it is turned in to useful products than burnt IMO.

But.... that is a big reduction in tax - roughly £1.9bn less tax revenue over the period by my estimation, or £3 per person, or £9 per taxpayer.

Graham_Devon

I don't think it is a reduction in tax.

Fuel has gone up in price by quite some margin since 2008. That will increase taxation income, not lower it.

System

I thought the tax was a static amount rather than a percentage.

Graham_Devon

Joeskeppi wrote: »

I thought the tax was a static amount rather than a percentage.

It is, but VAT isn't.

System

Hmm yeah.

Probably breaks evenish.

wotsthat

Did anyone notice that the roads were less busy between April and June?

I didn't - something about this story seems a bit 'off' to me.

coastline

wotsthat wrote: »

Did anyone notice that the roads were less busy between April and June?

I didn't - something about this story seems a bit 'off' to me.

I've noticed for longer than that...ask your local garden centre whos out and about...
I'm out a fair bit on an evening...theres hardly a car on the road after 9pm unless you're in the cities..

wotsthat

coastline wrote: »

I've noticed for longer than that...ask your local garden centre whos out and about...
I'm out a fair bit on an evening...theres hardly a car on the road after 9pm unless you're in the cities..

Different to my experience - the daily commute is getting worse and worse. Less cars at night - maybe.

I think the figures are wrong or something odd was happening in the periods being compared against.