By . Ray Massey . Last updated at 7:03 PM on 4th November 2011 . Good news: Lower petrol prices for drivers is welcomed by the AA, but towns without an Asda could pay 8p more . Supermarket giant Asda sparked a price war today by slashing its pump prices to their lowest level since February – by knocking up to 2p a litre off petrol. Sainsbury’s swiftly announced its own price cut and forecourts run by oil giants were set to follow. But the AA, while welcoming the moves, warned that motorists could be paying up to 8p a litre more in towns where there is not an Asda supermaket forcing prices down. It also warned motorists that the . relief may be short-lived because of the volatility of oil and currency . fluctuations, and the actions of speculators in the market. Asda . said that drivers filling up at its 192 filling stations would pay a . maximum of 128.7p a litre for petrol and no more than 136.7p a litre for . diesel after cutting 2p off unleaded and 1p off diesel. Sainsburys swiftly followed . Asda’s lead by announcing its own 2p a litre cut on unleaded and 1p per . litre  on diesel. But the supermarket refused to say what its average . prices were by insisting it ‘priced locally’ and would be too difficult . to work out the average. However, latest forecourt fuel-price data from Experian Catalist for mid-October show Sainsbury’s average price to be 132.60p for petrol and 137.63p for diesel – against which any subsequent price cuts can be judged by consumers. Asda said a separate sample survey taken from PetrolPrices.com on November 2 shows that some retailers are getting away with charging up to 8p a litre more in towns where there is no competition from an  Asda supermarket filling station. An Asda spokesman noted: 'Asda is . unique amongst supermarkets and oil companies by setting a maximum . national price cap for its customers wherever they live – others rely on . high prices at filling stations with no local competition to fund . phoney price drops elsewhere. ‘That . clear policy is what lies behind the AA's confirmation that towns with . an Asda are likely to have Britain’s lowest petrol prices.’ The AA said prices average petrol . prices were still within 3p of the all-time record averaging 134.69p a . litre, with diesel 140.67p. In May, pump prices peaked at 137.43 for . petrol and 143.04 for diesel. Asda said its income tracker showed . transport costs continued to be the main cost pressure on households, . with UK families £15 a week worse off than they were this time last . year. High prices: The AA said average petrol prices were still within 3p of the all-time record averaging 134.69p a litre, with diesel 140.67p. In May, pump prices peaked at 137.43 for petrol and 143.04 for diesel . Jeremy Walton, Asda’s head of petrol . trading, said: ‘We’re committed to doing everything we can to help lower . the cost of living for our customers, and today’s move shows that Asda . is once again leading the way in reducing the price at the pump.” Sainsbury's said it was not part of . its ‘strategy’ to reveal its average prices to consumers. But it said: 'From tomorrow we will be cutting fuel prices in many of our stores by . up to 2p per litre.' A Sainsbury's spokesman added: ’We are doing everything we can to help our customers save money. We regularly check our prices against those of competitors to ensure we always provide customers with great value.’ Paul Watters, head of AA Public Affairs said: ‘We very much welcome Asda’s decision to pass on savings quickly. 'Unfortunately, there are many towns in . the UK that don’t have their influence and they will have to wait . significantly longer for wholesale price cuts to be passed on – and . probably not in their entirety. We hope that other retailers will take . up the challenge.’ Mr Watters added: ‘A stronger pound and drop in the value of oil have created the chance to give drivers some respite from high fuel prices – but we fear that it is temporary. 'This summer has been characterised by a series of price swings from fluctuating oil prices that reflected more the twists and turns of the euro crises than the fundamentals of supply and demand.’
Supermarket giant has knocked up to 2p a litre off petrol prices in the UK .
Oil giants and Sainsbury's poised to follow .
AA warns move may be short-lived and that only towns with an Asda will benefit .
By . Ray Massey . Last updated at 7:03 PM on 4th November 2011 . Good news: Lower petrol prices for drivers is welcomed by the AA, but towns without an Asda could pay 8p more . Supermarket giant Asda sparked a price war today by slashing its pump prices to their lowest level since February – by knocking up to 2p a litre off petrol. Sainsbury’s swiftly announced its own price cut and forecourts run by oil giants were set to follow. But the AA, while welcoming the moves, warned that motorists could be paying up to 8p a litre more in towns where there is not an Asda supermaket forcing prices down. It also warned motorists that the . relief may be short-lived because of the volatility of oil and currency . fluctuations, and the actions of speculators in the market. Asda . said that drivers filling up at its 192 filling stations would pay a . maximum of 128.7p a litre for petrol and no more than 136.7p a litre for . diesel after cutting 2p off unleaded and 1p off diesel. Sainsburys swiftly followed . Asda’s lead by announcing its own 2p a litre cut on unleaded and 1p per . litre  on diesel. But the supermarket refused to say what its average . prices were by insisting it ‘priced locally’ and would be too difficult . to work out the average. However, latest forecourt fuel-price data from Experian Catalist for mid-October show Sainsbury’s average price to be 132.60p for petrol and 137.63p for diesel – against which any subsequent price cuts can be judged by consumers. Asda said a separate sample survey taken from PetrolPrices.com on November 2 shows that some retailers are getting away with charging up to 8p a litre more in towns where there is no competition from an  Asda supermarket filling station. An Asda spokesman noted: 'Asda is . unique amongst supermarkets and oil companies by setting a maximum . national price cap for its customers wherever they live – others rely on . high prices at filling stations with no local competition to fund . phoney price drops elsewhere. ‘That . clear policy is what lies behind the AA's confirmation that towns with . an Asda are likely to have Britain’s lowest petrol prices.’ The AA said prices average petrol . prices were still within 3p of the all-time record averaging 134.69p a . litre, with diesel 140.67p. In May, pump prices peaked at 137.43 for . petrol and 143.04 for diesel. Asda said its income tracker showed . transport costs continued to be the main cost pressure on households, . with UK families £15 a week worse off than they were this time last . year. High prices: The AA said average petrol prices were still within 3p of the all-time record averaging 134.69p a litre, with diesel 140.67p. In May, pump prices peaked at 137.43 for petrol and 143.04 for diesel . Jeremy Walton, Asda’s head of petrol . trading, said: ‘We’re committed to doing everything we can to help lower . the cost of living for our customers, and today’s move shows that Asda . is once again leading the way in reducing the price at the pump.” Sainsbury's said it was not part of . its ‘strategy’ to reveal its average prices to consumers. But it said: 'From tomorrow we will be cutting fuel prices in many of our stores by . up to 2p per litre.' A Sainsbury's spokesman added: ’We are doing everything we can to help our customers save money. We regularly check our prices against those of competitors to ensure we always provide customers with great value.’ Paul Watters, head of AA Public Affairs said: ‘We very much welcome Asda’s decision to pass on savings quickly. 'Unfortunately, there are many towns in . the UK that don’t have their influence and they will have to wait . significantly longer for wholesale price cuts to be passed on – and . probably not in their entirety. We hope that other retailers will take . up the challenge.’ Mr Watters added: ‘A stronger pound and drop in the value of oil have created the chance to give drivers some respite from high fuel prices – but we fear that it is temporary. 'This summer has been characterised by a series of price swings from fluctuating oil prices that reflected more the twists and turns of the euro crises than the fundamentals of supply and demand.’
February – by knocking up to 2p a litre off warned motorists that the . relief may be speculators in the market. Asda . said that behind the AA's confirmation that towns with . an prices.’ The AA said prices average petrol .