AA president Edmund King said of the diesel price hike: "The impact of record diesel prices will be felt by everyone as higher transport costs are passed on to business and consumers.
"With some delivery and haulage firms adding a diesel surcharge to invoices, costs will rise faster than most people expect and stoke inflation again."
Mr Madderson claimed a "perfect storm" of rising crude oil prices, closing refineries and pressure on supply, mean diesel and petrol prices could reach a new high by Easter.
Inflation for diesel is now almost double the Consumer Price Index of 3.6%.
