Hold off on that next fill-up or gas coupon purchase. You might just save a couple of bucks.
Gas prices will drop about a dime per gallon on Sunday, according to the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, following the latest trend in lower gas prices throughout the United States.
Beginning on Sunday, consumers will pay $1.70 a gallon (44.9 cents a liter) for normal unleaded gasoline at the pumps in Germany and the Netherlands. That represents a drop of 10.3 cents a gallon from May’s prices, according to Maj. Mitch Edgar, AAFES spokesman.
Prices are slightly lower in the United Kingdom, because regular unleaded is not available. For example, under the new prices a gallon of super unleaded will cost $1.75 there, compared with $1.80 in Germany and the Netherlands.
Drivers in Turkey and the Azores will not benefit from the drop in fuel costs, because prices are set by an annual contract.
“This price change reflects a drop in the stateside Department of Energy average compiled over the last four weeks, plus a dispensing cost that includes printing, storing and managing of the coupons,” Edgar said.
The dispensing cost is the reason why prices do not exactly reflect what the average is in the States.
“Some folks expect that our prices should change immediately as the DOE fluctuates,” Edgar said. “A customer may watch a CNN report on a five-cent drop in stateside gas prices over the course of a few days and expect us to change prices immediately. Stateside stations change prices often, even daily, but we don’t do that.
“Our policy is to take a four-week average and announce our new prices in advance of a price increase, so customers can buy in advance of that increase. Or announce our new prices in advance of a price decrease, so customers can hold off on their next coupon purchase or fill-up.”
AAFES stores sell fuel coupons in Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Turkey and the Azores, and the upcoming drop is the second consecutive break after a long stint of price increases.
Edgar recommends drivers keep an eye on the Energy Department price changes to gauge when is the best time to buy fuel and fuel coupons.
“We set prices at the first of the month, so drivers could reap the benefits at the pump if they continue to check,” he said.
Log on to: tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/gdu/gasdiesel.asp for the latest stateside updates.
