CMA finds no fuel pricing exploitation 

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has found no evidence that fuel retailers changed their pricing strategies to exploit the Middle East crisis, but concerns about competition remain. 

Its report, covering the impact of the conflict on fuel prices and margins to the end of June 2026, found that falling wholesale costs led to lower pump prices during June. However, prices remained above levels recorded before the conflict. 

The CMA said the use of “passive pricing strategies” by most retailers may be contributing to sustained high margins. It also found that some retailers did not immediately pass reductions in wholesale diesel prices on to motorists, limiting competitive pressure across the market. 

The watchdog will continue monitoring the sector and undertake a review in the autumn. This will examine retailer pricing strategies, the speed at which wholesale price movements reach customers and the reasons for regional variations in pump prices. 

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