Budget 2013: Petrol fuel duty frozen

The exact amount of the planned rise was unknown but the change of heart will be of help to motorists faced with prices above £1.40 per litre at many forecourts (see the Cheap Petrol & Diesel guide to cut costs).

Of course, the announcement doesn't mean prices are coming down, just that the tax won't rise later this year.

In December's Autumn Statement, Osborne cancelled a planned petrol tax increase in January this year of 3.02p per litre, though with VAT the true jump would have been 3.6p.