Over this period, diesel put on 3.4% on 2014 although the increase in petrol consumption was a more modest 0.9%.


However, August saw a dip with fuel consumption down 0.1% in annualised terms and was indeed 0.8% and 4.1% lower than 2012 and 2013 respectively.


There has also been a 15% or €0.21 per litre drop in the average price of diesel over the period from January 2014 through to August 2015 all the while petrol fell back by €0.08, equivalent to a 5.5% drop in the forecourt retail price.


In terms of this year, the eight month period has seen diesel rise by €0.02 or 2% whilst the price of petrol has ratcheted up a 10.9% or €0.14 per litre over the same period.