Gasoline prices across the Pacific theater still are on the rise. On Thursday, mid-grade fuel at Army and Air Force Exchange Service gas stations was to climb 32 cents per gallon, from $2.52 to $2.84.
AAFES regular unleaded gas in South Korea also was to be 32 cents more Thursday morning — $2.98 per gallon, up from $2.66.
Guam was to see an increase of just 14 cents per gallon for regular unleaded but, with higher initial prices, fuel there also will be $2.98 per gallon.
The new retail prices across the theater stay in effect for June. In mainland Japan and Okinawa, AAFES adjusts prices monthly based on a Department of Energy average, by grade, from the previous four weeks. Incremental dispensing costs also are included, as is a Japanese government discount, which typically keeps fuel costs below the AAFES pricing formula, AAFES officials said.
According to the Department of Energy, retail mid-grade gas prices are starting to trend downward: After rising to an eight-week high of $3.03 a gallon on May 1, prices have dropped a few cents to $2.99 per gallon as of May 22.
According to the Lundberg Survey’s latest report, released May 21, the nationwide average price of self-serve regular fell about 1.45 cents in the previous two weeks to $2.93 per gallon.
Those fluctuations, however, won’t affect monthly prices in South Korea and Guam, where retail prices are based on local market costs.
Officials at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni said Wednesday that fuel prices for June would be set overnight.
“We know there’s going to be an increase the beginning of June but we don’t have a specific price at this time,” base spokesman Maj. Stewart Upton said. “We’re making sure we’re in line with the rest of the prices in Japan.”
Comparison of gas prices
(per gallon)
Mainland Japan and Okinawa
Mid-grade fuel
May: $2.52
June: $2.84
Diesel
May: $2.51
June: $2.72
South Korea
Regular unleaded
May: $2.66
June: $2.98
Premium unleaded
May: $2.87
June: $3.19
Guam
Regular unleaded
May: $2.84
June: $2.98
Mid-grade
May: $2.87
June: $3.09
Premium
May: $2.91
June: $3.19
