U.S. civilian employee Leslie Graves keeps an eye on the numbers while pumping gas at Misawa Air Base, Japan, on Thursday. Graves was topping off his tank before Saturday's increase, paying $6 for 1.75 gallons. (Jennifer H. Svan / S&S)
Unleaded gas prices across the Pacific will spike another 10 cents Saturday, breaking an all-time high for the fifth consecutive week.
In mainland Japan and Okinawa, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service and Navy Exchange will bump mid-grade fuel up to $3.52 a gallon.
Diesel remains high but climbs less than 4 cents a gallon to $3.982 a gallon.
Gas prices in Japan are less than the U.S. average because of a 25 cent-per-gallon Japanese government discount applied at the pump.
In South Korea and Guam, there’s no such buffer, and prices mirror stateside trends.
On Saturday, regular unleaded fuel in South Korea will retail for $3.668 per gallon, up 10 cents. Premium unleaded will sell for $3.894, with diesel hitting $4.242 a gallon.
In Guam, it’s similar sticker shock: Regular unleaded soars to $3.709 a gallon, with mid-grade and diesel reaching $3.819 and $3.929 a gallon, respectively.
For the first time in months, the cheapest place to purchase fuel in the Pacific starting Saturday will be at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, the only base that doesn’t adjust gas prices according to U.S. market trends.
On Thursday, mid-grade unleaded gas was $3.47 a gallon, and diesel was $3.33, according to an Iwakuni spokesman.