If you use a courier for overseas deliveries or are taking a business trip or even soon to leave these shores for a well earned break you could encounter surcharges due to the high rise in oil prices.

It's mostly affecting aviation fuel prices, so travel and courier costs could very soon be rising. This news coincides with the $40 a barrel market price for oil which is at its highest level since the early '90s.

British Airways and Quantas have already added a £5 and a A$16 tariff on tickets respectively and most other carriers are expected to follow suit. However, EasyJet has made an encouraging stand.

The company's chief executive Ray Webster is reported to have confirmed that its fares would remain low. He says: "The decision to raise fares will be disastrously counter-productive for BA."

Continuing violence in Iraq and general instability in the Middle East is said to have led to the recent rises. And the chances are that the prices are likely to get worse before they get better!

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Andrew Leech, Cross Reference Tel: 01753 884216