Markets Authority

The Competition and Markets Authority’s latest monitoring report finds that falling wholesale prices reduced UK pump prices in June, although prices remained well above pre-conflict levels. It found no evidence that retailers deliberately changed pricing strategies to exploit the Middle East conflict, but remains concerned that passive pricing and delayed diesel price reductions are sustaining high margins. The CMA will conduct a deeper review in the autumn, examining pricing strategies, the speed of wholesale-to-retail price changes and regional price differences. Fuel Finder now covers about 97% of UK petrol stations, representing an estimated 99% of fuel sold, while CMA enforcement has focused on registration and has so far required no financial penalties.

The Competition and Markets Authority assesses how the conflict in the Middle East affected UK road fuel prices, retail spreads and margins in May and June 2026. It examines differences between supermarket and non-supermarket outlets, price and margin trends, fuel inventories and Fuel Finder compliance, using data obtained under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. The report also sets out the CMA's next steps for monitoring the road fuel market.

The Competition and Markets Authority has provisionally decided that Aldi, Lidl Great Britain and Lidl Northern Ireland should be treated as large grocery retailers under the Groceries Market Investigation (Controlled Land) Order 2010. The rules would prevent them from using restrictive covenants or exclusivity agreements to block rival supermarkets from opening nearby. The CMA says the retailers’ store coverage, full grocery ranges and direct procurement models mean they no longer qualify as limited-assortment discounters. Stakeholders can submit views by 7 September 2026, with final decisions expected in autumn 2026.

The publication reports 48 whistleblowing disclosures for 2025 to 2026: 36 were held for intelligence only after initial investigation, while 12 proceeded to further investigation.