The government has revealed that a UK watchdog will be granted "tough new powers" in a bid to prevent retailers from unfairly hiking up fuel prices. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will become the body responsible for closely monitoring road fuel prices and reporting any sign of malpractice to the government.

The move aims to help improve competition in the market, making sure customers across the country are given a fair choice of prices when they buy fuel. Fuel retailers, including supermarkets, will be forced to share how much they are charging customers on their forecourts versus their profits.

Those that fail to comply could face a fixed fine from the watchdog of up to 1 per cent of their worldwide turnover or an ongoing fine of up to five per cent of daily turnover. Energy security secretary Claire Coutinho said: "At a time when many were struggling with increased living costs, we saw shocking behaviour from some fuel retailers who failed to pass on savings at the pump.

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"Now we are cracking down on any petrol station bosses found to be unfairly hiking up their prices. That’s why we’re giving the CMA new powers to bring fairness back to the forecourts and make sure UK drivers get a competitive fuel price.

Amid this development, fuel prices have remained level in Birmingham recently according to reports by motorists on petrolprices.com. It appears Costco in Heartlands Parkway is still the place with the least expensive fuel, with the price of unleaded at 137.9p.

Cheapest petrol stations in Birmingham

Here are the cheapest places within ten miles of Birmingham city centre according to Petrolprices.com - they were recorded between November 14 and yesterday, November 16.

  • Costco Heartlands Parkway / 137.9p / 145.9p
  • Morrisons Willenhall / 144.7p / 154.7p
  • Watery Lane Fuel Express Automat / 145.6p / 154.7p
  • Vauxhall Road Fuel Express Automat / 145.7p / 155.7p
  • Asda Queslett / 145.7p / 155.7p
  • Asda Minworth / 145.7p / 155.7p