TOKYO (MNI) – The average price of regular gasoline in Japan this
week fell to Y157.2 ($1.93) per liter, or $7.33 per gallon, from Y158.1
last week, marking a second straight weekly fall, data released by the
Agency for Natural Resources and Energy showed Wednesday.
The price reached Y158.3 in the week to started April 2, the
highest since Y161.6 seen in the week of Oct. 14, 2008.
The recent surge in refined petroleum product prices in Japan
reflects rising crude oil prices in global markets on heightened
tensions over Iran’s nuclear enrichment program and U.S.-led sanctions.
The average retail price this week was 3.3% above the Y152.2 per
liter price seen a year earlier, with the pace of year-on-year gains
decelerating from a 4.2% rise in the previous week.
The average price of diesel fuel was at Y136.2 per liter, down from
Y136.9 in the previous week, the first fall in eight weeks. That
compares with the record high of Y167.4 recorded on Aug. 4, 2008.
The average over-the-counter price of kerosene for heating stood at
Y1,762 per 18 liters this week, down from Y1,767 last week. It posted a
record high of Y2,378 on Aug. 11, 2008.
The average home-delivery kerosene price was at Y1,877 per 18
liters, down from Y1,884 the previous week. It hit a record high of
Y2,484 on Aug. 11, 2008.
tokyo@marketnews.com
** MNI Tokyo Newsroom: 81-3-5403-4835 **
[TOPICS: M$J$$$,M$A$$$,MAJDS$]
