Petrol prices set to rise 5p a litre, retailers warn, as cost of crude oil is pushed up by civil unrest in Syria and Egypt and rise in demand in Asia

• Fall in Libya's oil exports also forced the price of crude oil up, retailers say
• Petrol Retailers' Association predict increase of 5p per litre before October
  

  The Petrol Retailers' Association has warned fuel prices could increase by 5p per litre before the end of September
  
  Petrol prices are set to rise 5p per litre as global factors including the civil unrest in Syria and Egypt push up crude oil prices, retailers have warned.
  The fall in Libya's oil exports and the rise in demand from Asia have also forced the price of crude oil up, the Petrol Retailers' Association has said.
  The association made the prediction as the Goldman Sachs Group suggested Brent crude prices could rise to $115 a barrel in the 'very near term'.
  The association's chairman Brian Madderson said: 'UK petrol prices have not yet seen the full impact of this crude oil increase due to the rapid and slightly unexpected revaluation of pound sterling from $1.48 to $1.56.
  'Therefore it was concerning to read recent comments from the City that the "pound is overblown" and will soon come hurtling down towards the $1.45 level.
  'We calculate at current wholesale prices that this will add a further 5p per litre at the pump before the end of September and hit businesses and households in the pocket at a time when pundits are forecasting a continued increase in retail sales to drive growth in the economy. 
  'Should the Middle East tensions escalate further and crude oil prices react accordingly, the Bank of England’s new inflation targets could be significantly challenged.'
  Last week it was revealed motorists are having to deal with a ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ attitude to petrol pricing as some towns charge far more for unleaded and diesel than others, according to the AA.
  
   
  The motoring organisation said that in some areas there are 'pump price dogfights', as supermarkets and other forecourts battle to be the cheapest. But in areas that lack this competition, prices remain higher.
  
  

  Unrest in Egypt and Syria are among the factors for the rise in crude oil prices, according to the PRA. Much of Cairo has been flooded with armoured vehicles and soldiers in a crackdown on protests
  
  It came as the AA's monthly fuel price report revealed petrol pump prices had gone up by an average of 3p a litre since June and were showing no signs of falling away.
  At 137.52p a litre, petrol last week averaged 1.74p a litre more than a month earlier, at 135.78p, and was almost 3p dearer than June’s 134.6p price plateau – although prices dropped slightly last weekend.
  According to The Times, Wall Street brokers have said global oil demand has gone up by 1.1million barrels a day this year compared to the beginning of last year.
  
  

  The PRA made the prediction as the Goldman Sachs Group suggested Brent crude prices could rise to $115 a barrel in the 'very near term'