Gas prices are going up again.
Increases kick in Wednesday, and those who can expect to pay more at the pumps include U.S. personnel and families living in Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, Turkey and the Azores, officials said.
“Once again, the November [Department of Energy] average price for all grades of gasoline, including diesel, increased and is currently 43.6 cents a gallon higher than this time last year,” according to information released Monday by the Army and Air Force Exchange Service.
Though the U.S. military services buy fuel from local suppliers, which explains why prices can fluctuate from country to country, prices passed on to U.S. overseas users are based on U.S. prices.
As of Nov. 22, the average cost of gasoline in the United States was $1.948 per gallon. Diesel was $2.116 per gallon, according to the DOE’s Energy Information Administration.
Overseas users of diesel fuel will take the greatest hit, with the average price increase of 8.2 cents per gallon. Generally, prices for regular gas will increase by 2.6 cents, mid-grade by 3.2 cents, and premium by 3.4 cents, AAFES reported.
In Germany, the AAFES price for normal unleaded fuel will be $2.164 per gallon, AAFES reported. The price for super-unleaded fuel will be $2.267 per gallon, super plus will be $2.358 per gallon, and the price for diesel fuel will be $2.333 per gallon.
Gasoline prices will decrease in the Netherlands, with super-unleaded fuel dropping from $2.325 to $2.267, and super-plus unleaded down from $2.577 to $2.519. Diesel fuel, however, will increase from $2.503 to $2.511 a gallon.
In the United Kingdom, AAFES gas customers will pay $2.201 a gallon for super-unleaded fuel. Super plus and LRP no longer are available. Diesel fuel will increase to $2.267, according to AAFES.
Troops and families in Turkey will pay $2.096 per gallon for normal unleaded fuel, and prices for super-unleaded fuel will be $2.340. Diesel fuel prices will remain the same at $2.280.
AAFES operates 238 gas stations exclusively for military customers at installations in the United States, Europe and the Pacific.
For troops and dependents in Germany and the Netherlands, the gas coupons that expired on Sept. 30 still will be accepted at AAFES gas stations through April 30, even though they no longer are accepted off base.
Fuel prices in Italy are set by the Tax-Free Office through U.S. Navy contracts. Coupons are issued by the Navy Exchange for use on the economy because there are no gas pumps on any of the U.S. installations in Italy. The coupon fuel book prices will increase from $63.55 per book to $70.60 per book, a price change that is reflective of both the increase in fuel prices as well as the declining value of the U.S. dollar versus the euro, according to information in the NSA Naples base newspaper. Navy and tax-free office personnel were not available for comment.
The Energy Information Administration posts average gasoline and diesel fuel prices on its Web site every Monday by close of business, EST. The Web site is: tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/gdu/gasdiesel.asp.
Tips on fuel use
Here are some tips to help drivers use fuel wisely:
Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving, such as speeding, rapid acceleration and braking, can lower gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent in town.
Observe speed limits. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph.
Avoid excessive idling. Idling gets zero miles per gallon. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than do cars with smaller engines.
Use cruise control. Cruise control on the highway helps maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas.
Keep engines properly tuned. A tuned car can improve gas mileage by an average of 4.1 percent, though results may vary. If a vehicle has a faulty oxygen sensor replaced, gas mileage may improve as much as 40 percent.
Replace air filters regularly. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve a car’s gas mileage by as much as 10 percent.
Keep tires properly inflated. Gas mileage can be improved by 3.3 percent by keeping tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1 pound-per-square-inch (psi) drop in pressure of all four tires.
Use the recommended grade of motor oil. Gas mileage can be improved by 1 percent to 2 percent by using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil.
Source: Department of Energy
