This is one milestone motorists won’t likely mark with a long road trip.
Gas prices surged to an all-time national high of $3.267 per gallon in the States last week, according to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service
And, yes, Pacific pumps are following suit.
Saturday’s new fuel prices at Army and Air Force Exchange Service outlets across the Pacific region broke new ground, easily eclipsing the previous high set in May.
In mainland Japan and Okinawa, midgrade gas rose 5 cents to $3.139 a gallon, while diesel surged a whopping 16 cents, to $3.624 a gallon.
Those prices are below U.S. averages due to a 25-cent discount AAFES extends through quality-of-life funds provided by the government of Japan.
In South Korea and Guam, no such break exists and prices are soaring.
A gallon of unleaded in South Korea rose to $3.29 Saturday — up 6 cents from the week before — while diesel topped $3.88 a gallon.
In Guam, unleaded was to hit $3.329 a gallon — 5 cents higher than last May’s record.
At Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in southern Japan, gas prices stay fixed at $3.47 a gallon for midgrade and $3.33 for diesel fuel.
Gas prices aren’t expected to drop any time soon.
The Energy Department projects the U.S. monthly average of retail regular gasoline to peak near $3.50 a gallon in May and June.
In some regions, it could reach as high as $4 a gallon, some analysts predict.
Diesel fuel, used to transport the vast majority of the nation’s consumer goods, also hit a new record of $3.909 last week.
AAFES uses the weekly retail average of gasoline in the States, as determined by the Energy Department, to adjust its pump prices every Saturday at its overseas locations.
Navy Exchange has an agreement with AAFES to match its prices at NEX outlets in Japan and Guam, and also resets its prices each Saturday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
New costs in effect at fueling stations
New gas prices that went into effect Saturday at AAFES and NEX fueling stations in the Pacific region:
Japan and Okinawa Midgrade unleaded: $3.139 (up from $3.082)Diesel: $3.624 (up from $3.463)
South Korea Unleaded: $3.290 (up from $3.227)Premium: $3.508 (up from $3.451)Diesel: $3.884 (up from $3.723)
Guam Unleaded: $3.329 (up from $3.269)Midgrade: $3.439 (up from $3.379)Premium:$3.549 (up from $3.489)
Iwakuni Midgrade: $3.47 (same from previous week)Diesel: $3.33 (same)
