I see that the price of petrol has just passed the 90 p/L mark as reported in the British media. People seem concerned about the price of petrol being sustained above 1 pound per litre.

Note that the benchmark concern is in litres and not gallons.



http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,3604,1545576,00.html

Motorists are paying an average of more than 90p for a litre of unleaded petrol today after oil prices continued to rise.

Figures from price monitoring organisation Catalist show the average cost of unleaded petrol now stands at 90.2p a litre in the UK and almost 94p for diesel.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,3604,1545255,00.html

The effect of high prices also pushed petrol to a record high. Last week the AA said the price of a litre of unleaded was more than the £1 mark in some areas and warned there was little chance of prices coming down. The average is now near 90p.

Well, that makes $0.66/L ($2.499/US gal.) seem more tolerable.

Danny

You really don't have a clue about the UK - do you.....

Which "version" of the UK would that be?

The one that millions of people visit by plane each year.

When was the last time you were here?

Danny: "www. ..."

P.S. The AA "year on year pricing" shows gallons only - but I can't be bothered to put the link here because all the Brits will believe me. plus we could all get our "gallon" or "litre" version by simply loading a search string one way or another.

And who would that make us look like?

Danny, if your genuinely interetested (ahem) then I'll email it you!

I've noticed that with all this talk of petrol prices, no-one has mentioned gallons. Even the Sun doesn't give a gallon price. Until recently, whenever there was talk of rising fuel prices some of the tabloids would give prices in gallons as well.

Maybe something to do with the £1/L barrier whereas before there was a £4/gal barrier?

Or maybe its just been so long since anyone bought a gallon of fuel that even the most stubborn pro-imperial papers realise that it means nothing to people any more.

<<Maybe something to do with the £1/L barrier whereas before there was a £4/gal barrier?
>>

Hard to build excitement around a £4.546/gal barrier? :)

I'm inclined to believe its a "cut-off" feature. The 1 pound per litre mark was always going to be a significant milestone. In a world where few people get that bothered with litres or gallons the information would be "shaped" around such milestones. A bit like the temperature debate (which turns into the same sort of "non argument" here).

the next will be 4.50 or 5 quid or whatvere

<<<the next will be 4.50 or 5 quid or whatvere>>>

I doubt it. There is only so long that people can relate to a price they haven't seen for 20 years!

What was the price of petrol when it was last in gallons? About £2?

was it four quid?

I can't remember now - but it was in gals.

£4? I thought that was roughly what it is now.

Back in the mid-eighties or whenever it was when it was priced per gallon - surely the price has gone up a lot more than that?

Don't ask me - I can never remember what it is in gals or litres!

Although I did get a shock to see "9" as the first figure in the litre price.
That's how it is really.
Coz we still just "fill up".

I'm sure 4/gal was the last biggy though and not long ago - time to consult the AA me thinks!

I was right! A the end of last year it was 3.91 / gal.

So its gone thru the 4/gal threshold (with accompanying headlines) and now hit the 1/ltr threshold (ditto).

That's the way the world spins - "mile stones"

You missed the point. I asked what the price was when petrol was last sold in gallons. I guessed about £2. Have a look at your source and let me know how close I am.

We do "just fill up" but we notice the price and use it as an index. eg 80=cheap, 85=average, 90=expensive

When you have been seeing those huge price signs changing from 50p to 60p to 70p to 80p etc, what does it tell us when someone suddenly says petrol costs £4 a gallon?

The media work on milestones. Like this one:

http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,22750-1686292,00.html

(not via google).

The AA pdf says 2/gal was inbetween 1989 and 1990.

If you want the PDF I'll publish it here - if you want

So my £2 was about right. I can't actually remember when they changed from gallons to litres - anyone know?

<<<The media work on milestones>>>

But the people work on what they see everyday on the big price sign when they drive into a petrol station!

<<So my £2 was about right. I can't actually remember when they changed from gallons to litres - anyone know? >>

I don't - although I believe I filled my moped up with gallons on the scale.
I can't be positive on that though as after scrounging some extra pocket money I tended to put "money's worth" into my tank rather than look up the definition of "gallon" and how it relates to pints, litres etc


<<<The media work on milestones>>>
<<But the people work on what they see everyday on the big price sign when they drive into a petrol station!>>

You'd think that wouldn't you? But people still appreciate the media way of talking in milestones rather than look up the definition of "gallon" and how it relates to pints, litres etc

You know, its funny.

The more I stay here the more realistic I get.

I guess I need to thank the "barmy brigade" for that!

:-D

<<<The more I stay here the more realistic I get.>>>

Not sure about that. I think you're losing it!

;-)

Thank the Lord for smiley thingies!

:-O