Oil prices have fallen from a high of $147 per barrel to about $78 now, but this has not been passed on to consumers in lower petrol prices.
The prime minister has called for these falls in crude oil price to be passed on as quickly as possible to consumers who are feeling the impact of surging fuel prices and much smaller increases in income.
Several supermarket chains have already started reducing the prices they charge for fuel.
Ray Holloway, director of the RMI Petrol Retailers Association, suggested that the prime minister could do more to reduce prices. "Gordon Brown always has the ability to reduce fuel prices through a fuel tax reduction, but avoids it," he said.
While oil prices and demand have fallen because of the economic slowdown, the impact of higher prices is being felt more in developed countries. China, India and the Middle East are continuing to grow, albeit at slightly slower rates than last year.
Source: BBC