TOKYO (MNI) – The average price of regular gasoline in Japan in the
May 3 week rose to Y138.7 ($1.50) per liter, or $5.70 per gallon, from
Y137.5 in the previous week, posting the ninth weekly rise in a row,
according to data released by the Oil Information Center on Monday.
It was much higher than the Y116.7 price of a year earlier and was
the highest since Y141.0 marked on Nov. 4, 2008.
The weekly survey of fuel prices is usually conducted on Monday and
its results are released two business days later. For the latest week,
the survey was done on Thursday, May 6 because of public holidays from
May 3 to May 5.
Retail gasoline prices have been on a general uptrend since
mid-January 2009.
The national average price of Y106.0 marked on Jan. 13, 2009 was
the lowest level since the Y100.8 recorded on March 29, 2004.
This week the average price of high-octane gasoline stood at Y149.4
per liter, up from Y148.3 last week. It hit a record high of Y196.0 on
Aug. 4, 2008.
The average price for diesel oil stood at Y116.9 per liter this
week, up from Y115.9 last week. It compared with the record high of
Y167.4 hit on Aug. 4, 2008.
The average over-the-counter price of kerosene for heating stood at
Y1,424 per 18 liters, up from Y1,401 last week. It posted a record high
of Y2,378 on Aug. 11, 2008.
The average home-delivery kerosene price this week was at Y1,541
per 18 liters, also up from Y1,518. It hit a record high of Y2,484 on
Aug. 11, 2008.
tokyo@marketnews.com
** Market News International Tokyo Newsroom: 81-3-5403-4833**
[TOPICS: M$J$$$,M$A$$$,MAJDS$]
