With diesel prices already pushing up freight charges, the government’s planned fuel duty increase risks adding to costs that have yet to reach consumers in full. Some transport operators are already introducing higher fuel surcharges, while other increases will take longer to feed through as supply and delivery contracts come up for renewal. That means households could still be feeling the impact of today’s fuel prices well into next year.

As retailers prepare for the busy Christmas period, the pressure to keep prices competitive leaves little room to absorb further increases. Businesses can make savings by reducing unnecessary mileage and getting more goods onto each delivery route, but those efficiencies can only offset so much of a sustained rise in diesel costs. If transport becomes more expensive, retailers will eventually have to reconsider how much they charge for getting goods to customers.

With the Autumn Budget approaching, the Chancellor should reconsider the timing of the planned fuel duty rise. Delaying it won’t resolve the wider pressures on global energy supplies, but adding another cost while businesses are already absorbing higher freight bills risks prolonging the squeeze on household spending into 2027.