PETROL PRICE AUGUST 2025 vs SEPTEMBER 2025
Trends, Drivers & What Actually Mattered
Updated as of January 2, 2026
Short intro (updated):
This updated analysis compares petrol price behavior in August 2025 versus September 2025, explaining what actually drove pump prices once the dust settled. Using confirmed data from RAC, IEA, EIA, OPEC and Reuters, the article explains how crude markets, OPEC+ policy, taxes, and geopolitics interacted — and what those two months ultimately signaled for late-2025 and early-2026 fuel prices.
1) PETROL PRICE — AUGUST 2025 (REVIEWED WITH HINDSIGHT)
SEO snippet:
In August 2025, average petrol prices in the UK and several OECD markets edged modestly lower as Brent crude remained rangebound in the mid-$60s per barrel and retailers passed through limited wholesale savings.
What happened in August 2025 (confirmed):
August 2025 turned out to be a low-volatility month for retail petrol prices. In the UK, RAC data showed average unleaded falling by roughly 0.39p per litre, ending the month near 134.6p/L. Supermarket forecourts led the easing, reflecting competitive discounting rather than a structural collapse in wholesale costs.
From a January 2026 perspective, August now clearly appears as a transitional month. Brent crude hovered mainly between $65–$69/bbl, with no sustained breakout. Refinery margins were stable, inventories were adequate, and retailers adjusted prices cautiously.
Why August matters in retrospect:
Pump prices typically lag crude by weeks, and August illustrated that lag perfectly. Even though crude softened marginally mid-month, taxes, fixed costs, and cautious retail pricing meant drivers saw only symbolic relief. This set the baseline for September’s market sensitivity.
LSI keywords:
August petrol price UK 2025, August 2025 fuel trends, average petrol price August, supermarket petrol discounts UK.
Expanded FAQs — August 2025
Q: What was the UK average petrol price at end-August 2025?
A: About 134.6p per litre (unleaded) according to RAC Fuel Watch.
Q: Did diesel follow petrol in August 2025?
A: Yes. Diesel prices also eased slightly, down roughly 0.7p/L over the month.
Q: Why were supermarket prices cheaper?
A: Supermarkets used fuel as a footfall driver and absorbed part of the margin, accelerating price pass-through compared with independent forecourts.
External links (end of section):
- RAC Fuel Watch — August 2025 petrol summary
https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/fuel-news/fuel-prices/ - UK Government weekly road fuel prices
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/weekly-road-fuel-prices
2) PETROL PRICE — SEPTEMBER 2025 (WHAT CHANGED)
SEO snippet:
September 2025 kept petrol prices broadly stable, with Brent crude trading near $66–$68/bbl as markets weighed OPEC+ supply increases against geopolitical risk headlines.
September in context:
Early and mid-September 2025 did not deliver the decisive drop many drivers expected after August. Brent remained stuck in a tight $66–$68/bbl range, and retail petrol prices reflected that hesitation.
The difference from August was sentiment, not numbers. Markets became more reactive to:
- Attacks on Russian refining assets
- OPEC+ signaling a gradual unwind of voluntary cuts
- Conflicting inventory signals from IEA and EIA
From today’s viewpoint (January 2026), September now looks like a pressure-building month where downside risks accumulated without yet materializing at the pump.
LSI keywords:
September petrol price 2025, mid-September fuel prices, early September UK petrol.
Expanded FAQs — September 2025
Q: What pushed oil prices in September 2025?
A: A mix of geopolitical supply risks, cautious OPEC+ policy shifts, and inventory expectations kept prices rangebound.
Q: Did petrol get cheaper later in September?
A: In some regions marginally, but meaningful declines only appeared toward late Q4 2025, after inventory builds became clearer.
External links:
- Reuters — Oil steady as market weighs supply risk
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/oil-steady-market-weighs-supply-risk-attacks-russian-refineries-2025-09-16/ - IEA Oil Market Report — September 2025
https://www.iea.org/reports/oil-market-report-september-2025
3) GLOBAL CRUDE & MARKET MOVERS (BRENT, WTI & SUPPLY RISK)
SEO snippet:
Between August and September 2025, Brent crude averaged around $67/bbl as OPEC+ supply increases offset geopolitical disruptions and steady global demand.
Confirmed crude picture:
Looking back with full-year data, Brent crude during Aug–Sep 2025 was remarkably range-disciplined. The market balanced:
- Incremental OPEC+ supply
- Strong Asian buying, especially China
- Episodic supply-risk headlines
- A weakening US dollar environment
This balance explains why pump prices did not collapse despite frequent bearish headlines.
Key drivers (Aug–Sep 2025):
- OPEC+ policy: Gradual unwind of voluntary cuts
- Geopolitics: Short-lived price spikes from refinery attacks
- Demand: Asian stockpiling supported front-month pricing
- FX & rates: Softer dollar lent support to commodities
LSI keywords:
Brent price Aug–Sep 2025, WTI vs Brent 2025, OPEC+ output policy.
Expanded FAQs — Crude Markets
Q: Where did Brent trade on average?
A: Roughly $66–$68 per barrel, depending on contract and date.
Q: Why didn’t crude weakness translate faster to pumps?
A: Inventory buffers, refinery margins, and taxes delayed pass-through.
External links:
- Macrotrends — Brent daily prices
https://www.macrotrends.net/2480/brent-crude-oil-prices-10-year-daily-chart - OPEC Monthly Oil Market Report
https://publications.opec.org/momr
4) REGIONAL PRICE SNAPSHOT — UK, USA, INDIA & EUROPE
SEO snippet:
Petrol prices diverged sharply by region in Aug–Sep 2025 due to taxation, exchange rates, and domestic pricing policies.
Key regional realities:
- UK: High fuel duty and VAT dominated pump pricing
- USA: Lower taxes meant faster price response to crude
- India: Prices influenced by excise duty and state VAT
- Europe: Environmental levies amplified price differences
LSI keywords:
UK petrol price 2025, US gasoline prices September, India petrol trends.
Expanded FAQs — Regional
Q: Why is US petrol cheaper than UK petrol?
A: Significantly lower fuel taxes and different retail margin structures.
Q: Best way to check my country’s petrol price?
A: National statistics or GlobalPetrolPrices for comparisons.
External links:
- GlobalPetrolPrices — world gasoline prices
https://www.globalpetrolprices.com/gasoline_prices/ - RAC Fuel Watch
https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/fuel-watch/
5) HOW PUMP PRICES ARE BUILT (WHY CRUDE ≠ PUMP)
SEO snippet:
Retail petrol prices are dominated by taxes, logistics, and retail margins — crude oil is only one component.
Typical structure:
- Crude input
- Refining & blending
- Distribution & retail margin
- Taxes (often the largest slice)
Key insight:
August–September 2025 demonstrated again that tax-heavy systems blunt crude volatility.
External links:
- RAC Foundation fuel factsheet
https://www.racfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/Fuel_Factsheet_8_September_2025.pdf - GOV.UK fuel statistics
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/weekly-road-fuel-prices
6) OPEC+ & SUPPLY POLICY — WHY IT SET THE TONE
SEO snippet:
OPEC+ output signaling in late 2025 capped upside risks and laid groundwork for Q4 price softness.
With hindsight, analysts were correct: inventory builds in Q4 2025 followed gradual OPEC+ supply increases, validating why August–September prices stayed capped rather than spiking.
External links:
- OPEC MOMR
https://publications.opec.org/momr - Reuters — oil market balance
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/world-oil-market-see-higher-supply-surplus-after-opec-hike-iea-says-2025-09-11/
7) FORECASTS — WHAT ACTUALLY PLAYED OUT
SEO snippet:
Late-2025 forecasts pointing to softer prices proved broadly accurate as inventories rose into Q4.
By January 2026, it’s clear that EIA and IEA guidance was directionally right, though geopolitical risk kept volatility alive.
External links:
- EIA STEO
https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/steo/ - S&P Global via Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/sp-global-expects-dated-brent-crude-hit-55-per-barrel-by-year-end-2025-09-08/
8) PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS (STILL VALID IN 2026)
- Supermarket forecourts remain cheapest
- Avoid motorway stations
- Businesses should align fuel buying with inventory cycles
External links:
- RAC Fuel Finder
https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/fuel-watch/
9) PETROL VS GASOLINE (QUICK CLARITY)
Same fuel. Different word. Taxes and specs matter more than language.
External link:
https://www.britannica.com/technology/gasoline-fuel
10) NOVINTRADES — MARKET INSIGHT
NovinTrades provides oil product intelligence and procurement insight for traders and industrial buyers.
- Website: https://www.novintrades.com
- Telegram: https://t.me/novintrades
CONCLUSION (UPDATED)
SEO snippet:
August 2025 delivered mild relief at the pump, while September 2025 confirmed a rangebound oil market — together they signaled the softer, inventory-driven price environment that emerged later in 2025.
Final takeaways:
- August 2025: Slight easing, low volatility
- September 2025: Rangebound crude, rising sensitivity
- Outcome: Q4 2025 softness validated agency forecasts
- Lesson: Taxes and inventory cycles matter more than headlines