Expect to pay more at the pump in the near future

Petrol prices are set to rise across the country off the back of US-Russia tensions, and a weaker New Zealand dollar.

The price of oil's reached its highest level in five months, following fresh American sanctions against Russia's energy industry.

AA principal policy adviser Terry Collins says the cost here may jump up around 10 to 20 cents a litre in the coming weeks.

He says the fuel we're buying today, is for the end of January and Feburary, so we'll probably see the effects in a month's time - with gradual rises each week.