The Budget - Forget the 1p Here and 3p There, and Consider the Knock-on Effect

The 3p fuel duty rise is due to phased in - a penny at a time - between April this year, and January 2011.

It will immediately impact upon haulage firms, delivery companies or any company that runs a fleet on its own behalf, taxi and bus companies, and small businesses that rely on their own transport to stay in business - like, for example, plumbers, painters, and building contractors.

All of those firms will be paying at the pump, and all of them will have no choice but to pass on those extra pennies to the customer - and that means you! - not once, but three times, over a very short period of time.

And, of course, you'll be paying at the pump yourself if you drive a car for any reason at all.

You'll also, by the way, be paying at the pub - if you can find one that can still afford to stay in business.

A penny here and three pennies there? Doesn't sound too bad until you consider the knock-on effect, does it?