TOKYO (MNI) – The average price of regular gasoline in Japan this
week rose further to Y151.7 ($1.83) per liter, or $7.00 per gallon, from
Y151.2 last week, as it remained at the highest level in 29 months, data
released by the Oil Information Center showed on Wednesday.
Regular gasoline prices were at the highest level in just over two
years and five months since the week that started on Oct. 20, 2008, when
the average price stood at Y157.4.
Gasoline prices posted a sixth straight weekly increase after
snapping a 10th consecutive week of price gains in the week that started
on Feb. 14.
The average price this week was up 16.0% from Y131.3 per liter seen
a year earlier.
Retail gasoline prices were on a general upward trend from
mid-January 2009 until May 31, 2010, when they began to ease prior to
the recent pickup.
This week, the average price of high-octane gasoline stood at
Y162.5 per liter, up from Y162.0 last week. It hit a record high of
Y196.0 on Aug. 4, 2008.
The average price of diesel fuel stood at Y131.2 per liter, up from
Y130.8 last week. That compares with the record high of Y167.4 recorded
on Aug. 4, 2008.
The average over-the-counter price of kerosene for heating stood at
Y1,688 per 18 liters, up from Y1,682 last week. It posted a record high
of Y2,378 on Aug. 11, 2008.
The average home-delivery kerosene price this week was at Y1,798
per 18 liters, up from Y1,792 in the previous week. It hit a record high
of Y2,484 on Aug. 11, 2008.
tokyo@marketnews.com
** Market News International Tokyo Newsroom: 81-3-5403-4835 **
[TOPICS: M$J$$$,M$A$$$,MAJDS$]
