London has remained the world's most congested city for the second year running according to the annual report by traffic analytics company Inrix. 

The capital of the United Kingdom has retained the title it claimed in 2021 above over a thousand cities across 50 countries, with drivers spending 156 hours stuck in traffic, narrowly pipping Chicago to the top spot with 155. 

The 156 hours represents a 5% increase from 2021 and the pre-pandemic figure in 2019, making it one of only three cities in the top ten to have seen the traffic increase since 2019, and in the UK as a whole, congestion has increased 72% in Urban areas since before the pandemic. 

London extended its lead to 18 hours lost over the next highest figure in Europe, being Paris, with the French capital seeing its figure fall 16% to 138 hours. 

The cost of fuel in the capital also skyrocketed with the average commuter having to spend £188 more in 2022 than in 2021. 

The top four most congested roads in the United Kingdom were all in London, with the A406 eastbound, which goes through Ealing, ranking third with 42 hours lost, coming in behind only the A219 southbound and A202 eastbound. 

Bob Pishue, the report's author, said: "Just as most countries, states, cities, and towns completely lifted most mandates on social gatherings and events – and as companies opened their doors to employees – the economic fallout from a weakened supply chain, soaring energy and& oil prices, a war in Europe, and general inflationary pressure rippled through most of the western world.  

"Yet despite those challenges, Vehicle-Miles Travelled, or amount people drive, largely stayed the same or even increased in certain urban areas and countries.  

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"However, congestion has been generally increasing, as traffic patterns begin to look more like they did in 2019 than in 2021.  

"The AM peak period continued to grow into the more traditional peak, as opposed to a gradual increase in traffic throughout the day. 

"In the UK, London continued its reign at the top of the Global Traffic Scorecard Impact Rank as the UK continues to see more light commercial vehicles and heavy goods vehicles than it did prior to the COVID19 pandemic."