A surge in pump prices led to petrol and diesel sales crashing to winter levels in July, an AA analysis of government figures shows.

Drivers bought nearly 1.48 billion litres of petrol in July – an 8% fall on the June figure.

This was only 45 million litres more than the record low in February this year and just 11 million litres more than the January 2013 total.

July 2013 sales of diesel were down 5% on June’s figure, dropping to just over 2.21 billion litres. These figures include commercial usage.

The AA said that in June, when the average cost of petrol levelled at 134.6p a litre after surging to 140p in spring, stable lower prices lifted petrol sales to a level last seen in November 2011.

But in July, a 5p-a-litre rise in wholesale costs raised the average pump price from a low of 133.7p on the last day of June to 135.8p by the middle of July and 137.2p by the end of the month. It finally levelled off at 137.6p in the first week of August.

Tax income from duty on petrol and diesel sales fell £142m in July compared to June and £35m compared to July 2012.

AA president Edmund King said: “It’s staggering that when brilliant weather sent consumers into the shops and gave the UK’s retail sector a strong boost, the complete opposite happened at the pumps.

“Not only are petrol sales shadowing the record lows of this winter, but are lower than last July which included a week of Olympics football, opening ceremony and initial events.

“It seems that, as each penny increase registers on fuel forecourt price boards, drivers automatically cut back – even if they’re in the mood to spend elsewhere.”