MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — Staff Sgt. Jessy Acosta has been riding her bike to work most days this summer. It’s a way to squeeze in some exercise and save a few bucks at the pump, she said.
Acosta probably won’t be giving up her fumes-free commute anytime soon. Starting Tuesday, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service will increase the cost of gasoline in mainland Japan, Okinawa, South Korea and Guam by about 7 cents per gallon for most fuel grades.
The increase mirrors climbing prices stateside, where nationwide unleaded fuel averaged just more than $3 per gallon on July 24 — the second highest pump price ever and 71 cents more than a year ago, according to the Energy Information Administration, the U.S. government’s top energy forecasting agency.
At Army and Air Force bases in South Korea and on Guam, unleaded gas will top the $3-per-gallon mark in August, as well: $3.021 in South Korea (up from $2.951) and $3.019 on Guam (up from $2.949).
In mainland Japan and on Okinawa, mid-grade gas — the only unleaded variety available — will retail for $2.873 per gallon next month, up from July’s $2.807. A Japanese government discount typically keeps fuel prices in Japan lower than other in AAFES outlets in the Pacific.
AAFES spokesman Judd Anstey noted in an e-mail that the company’s market-based gas policy, as approved by its military board of directors, is to set prices based on the U.S. Department of Energy’s monthly average for each grade of gasoline sold in the continental United States. Incremental dispensing costs — those associated with providing gasoline to customers overseas — also are included in the retail price.
AAFES used the following Energy Department averages to set August prices: $2.954 for regular unleaded, $3.055 for mid-grade, $3.153 for premium and $2.911 for diesel.
Officials with information about August prices at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni could not be reached by phone Thursday.
At AAFES outlets, when the new prices are to take effect Tuesday, consumers will pay about 35 to 36 cents more per gallon than in May.
“That’s really high,” Acosta said of the $2.87-per-gallon price. She was fueling a co-worker’s car Thursday at Misawa. “I thought it was high when it was $2.25,” she added.
For the most part, though, AAFES customers in Japan seem neither to be flinching at steeper prices nor scaling back their driving.
“I just don’t care,” said Staff Sgt. Daniel Law. “I’m about to go to Pensacola [Fla.], where it’s $3 a gallon and I’m driving a V-8 truck, so it doesn’t matter. … It’s not like you can get [by] without it.”
For Airman 1st Class Matthew McFarland, $2.87 seems “kind of cheap,” he said Thursday. “I’m from Bristol Bay, Alaska, where it’s $4.77” a gallon, he said. This summer’s on-base fuel price “hasn’t affected my driving at all.”
Staff Sgt. David Galbraith said he prefers his Harley Sportster to his truck. The bike’s better fuel economy is an added bonus, he said, adding he spends no more than $10 to fill up. As for paying $2.87 a gallon for that gas, he said, “I’m kind of used to it by now — but I still miss the days of 99 cents.”
