Most people are missing the point. OPEC only produces 40% of world oil, the other 60% that don't bow to OPEC blackmail but benefit from price increase (if any) too. We should be supporting and encouraging these producers to be fair. Oh and tax is currently 66% in the UK, not 80.

phil, Atlanta, US

Opec is a toothless tiger - and will always remain so. Taxes and oil company greed are the two driving forces behind the petrol/diesel prices we have to pay. Over 80% of the price you pay at the pumps is tax! Talk of another 2p increase in tax is in the pipeline. Why blame Opec??

john, london,

As the price of petrol went up, more people switched to diesel (which used to be cheaper than petrol as well) because diesel cars are more economical. Government tax revenues dropped dramatically. Therefore tax on diesel increased to make up the shortfall. Thanks Gordon. One more reason to emigrate!

John, Levignac, France

we shold all stop buying petrol to make a point - if only it were that easy!

mark desmond, bham, uk

Petrol prices in East Anglia are absolutely appalling. There is some serious profiteering going on in the region. I drive 50 miles to wellingborough for work and the price at Tesco today was 94.9 purely because of competition.
The supermarkets are no friend of the consumer either!!

Robin, Ely , UK

Hopfully the price of oil will keep falling, Iran, Venezuela and Russia need it to be above $70 other wise their economies start to tank. This will serve them right for all their macho man stances when it was $147.

Jonathan, Oxford,

Unless they are willing to work with the rest of the world to keep the price of oil stable and try to stop us going into a deeper recession , then we all should ignore them as they did us, when oil was sitting at $147 a barrel.
I think OPEC will find that we can live with less oil but can they?

william thomson, lincoln, England

So less money flowing to the dictators and the terrorists they support. How sad.

Nick , Rotherham, UK

Most people in in this part of Canada heat their homes with oil. The price of my heating bill has been estimated at $200 a month more than last year. My heat actually came on a couple of days ago for the first time since May. I now have have another 6 months of heating my home, and another 12 to pay

Colin Jackson, Halifax, Canada

I find it hilarious that OPEC, in order to keep the torrent of money pouring into their pockets, cut production... and the price still slides. Cut it even more - in fact stop altogether. See how many friends and how much money you've got after that.

Friends not a problem though - go buy some more.

Steve, London,

OPEC has to be outlawed and disbanded. The fact that they want to keep propping oil prices up is sinister and worrying. They have been one of the main causes of inflationary pressure for the last 2 years, which is only now easing.

mac, Manchester, UK

To those talking about fuel oil prices.
The price of fuel oil will take some time to follow the lead of crude as refinery capacity takes a huge toll on output. Therefore the simple economics of supply and demand come in to play

Gilchro1, Perth, Scotland

I totally agree with Jack Dawsey. Why is the differential between unleaded and diesel prices now nearly 15%. Petrol is far more refined than diesel so how can it be so much cheaper?
I will ask Gordon 'Superhero' Brown. He has the answers to everything.

rob, ashbourne, uk

The americans use diesel for winter heating. You're competing with them on the split products from crude oil, unlucky until it gets warmer in america.

Alistair Kipling, Birmingham,

So that means a litre of diesel should be what? 85p tops?

Though I suppose we also need to consider the impact of the dollar/ pound rate - no thanks to Gordon Brown's financial genius.

colin, Glasgow , UK

Could someone please explain why petrol prices are still so high? I mean, if the pumps are so quick to raise prices why can't they cut them as quickly? Is it because when the price was high they bought futures? This is a serious question.

ed, bedford,

The price differential is here for some time I fear due to the dash for diesel over the last few years and the fact that it is used for freight and commercial transport. This increased demand has put pressure on supplies where refineries built in previous decades are designed for high petrol yield.

Rod Boon, Liverpool,

When are the Utility Companies going to reduce Gas & Electricity prices.We must not let the Fat Cat Directors continue to screw their customers.If they dont act then the Government should bring them back under public ownership,privatisation did not produce competition only price increases.

Bill Rees, Mawnan Smith, Uk

Opec ministers reduce daily output by 1.5 million barrels, but recession fears send prices down to a 17-year low
While a fall in daily output is expected to increase the price of oil, Brent North Sea crude slumped to a 17-month low of $61.08
Same mistake 2 days in a row!

Mike, Wokingham,

When are we going to see diesel prices at the pumps falling as rapidly as unleaded? The differential is outrageous!!

Jack Dawsey, Colwall, England

As I said yesterday, petrol prices in East Anglia are typically 104p. BP and Shell should be seriously looked at by Competition Commissioner

malcolm, ely,