Demand stayed low outside of a brief panic
GB road-fuel sales remain below pre-pandemic levels
The country’s gasoline and diesel volumes struggle to reach February 2020 demand
Sales of gasoline and diesel at sampled filling stations in England, Scotland and Wales averaged 15,100l/d in December, up by 9.5pc from the same month in 2020 (see Fig.1), according to the latest data from the UK’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Beis). But demand remained in the 15,000-16,000l/d range that has been observed since April of last year—apart from September, when panic buying of fuel due to fears over shortages saw average daily sales jump to over 35,000l late in the month and dragged the monthly average above 18,000l/d. For all months without this rush to the pumps, demand remained lower than the c.17,700l/d observed in February 2020, the only full pre
Also in this section
12 December 2025
The latest edition of our annual Outlook publication, titled 'The shape of energy to come: Creating unique pathways and managing shifting alliances', is available now
12 December 2025
The federal government is working with Alberta to improve the country’s access to Asian markets and reduce dependence on the US, but there are challenges to their plans
11 December 2025
The removal of the ban on oil and gas exploration and an overhaul of the system sends all the right messages for energy security, affordability and sustainability
10 December 2025
The economic and environmental cost of the seven-year exploration ban will be felt long after its removal
