Unleaded petrol prices in capital cities around the country rose at the weekend an average of 15 to 143.9 a litre at Coles and Woolworths outlets.

Pump prices have been matched by independents and other chains such as BP around southeast Queensland.

On Saturday, the wholesale price of petrol actually dropped by more than half a cent.

Senior RACQ representatives will meet this week to consider urging the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to investigate the way in which price rises were co-ordinated across the country.

"Unfortunately, motorists are seen as a convenient cash cow," RACQ spokeswoman Lynda Schekoske said.

FUELtrac general manager Geoff Trotter yesterday said the size of the hike and its extent was staggering.

He said prices paid by motorists were approaching records paid when oil hit a peak of $US145 a barrel in 2008. The current price is around $US88 a barrel.

The price move comes only days after Coles and Woolworths took out full-page advertisements in newspapers across the country about record low prices for milk.

"They didn't take any ads out when they changed the price of fuel this week," Mr Trotter said.

Shell Australia's terminal gate price for unleaded petrol in Brisbane was 124.91 on Friday and dropped to 124.27 on Saturday.

Mr Trotter said the big grocery chains enjoyed discounts of three to four cents a litre on those prices so their margins would be well over 20 a litre.

Coles and Woolworths together sold nine billion litres of fuel a year, he said.

Administration worker Kelli Clouten got a shock yesterday filling up at the BP on Cavendish Rd, Holland Park, at 143.9 a litre. "That just cost me $40 for half a tank. Usually it's around $20 or so," she said.

Yesterday, petrol prices at a number of Coles and Woolworths outlets in Brisbane were 142.9 a litre for unleaded fuel.

The price rises have also been matched in part by the independents with Freedom outlets advertising unleaded petrol at 139.7 to 142.7.

According to www.motor mouth.com.au, the Matilda outlet at East Brisbane was selling unleaded for 129.9 a litre while Matilda at Clayfield was 143.7 a litre yesterday morning.

Woolworths spokeswoman Clare Buchanan said the retail price at Woolworths outlets was a reflection of higher wholesale prices.

Coles general manager of corporate affairs Robert Hadoer said rising demand driven by a recovering global economy had led to higher fuel prices worldwide.