Drivers growing frustrated with Pacific gas prices

[unhappycamper]

Gas prices on Okinawa are always lower than those in mainland Japan, thanks to a special economic package Okinawa receives. These prices, in yen, are per liter and equal about $4.20 a gallon. The top price is for regular gas; the bottom price is for diesel.


Drivers growing frustrated with Pacific gas prices
By Travis J. Tritten, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Saturday, November 1, 2008

SASEBO NAVAL BASE, Japan — Gas prices are continuing to fall all over this week — unless you buy from U.S. military base stations in Japan and Okinawa.

International declines in oil and gas prices, including a scheduled 53-cent drop to $2.75 per gallon for regular unleaded at Army and Air Force Exchange pumps in South Korea this weekend, have done nothing to sway prices hovering above $4 per gallon on Japan and Okinawa bases.

AAFES said prices at those bases will hold steady at $4.06 until at least December, when the Defense Energy Support Center re-evaluates the prices it charges AAFES.

Meanwhile, the average price for a gallon of gas in the United States fell to $2.65 this week, down 25 cents from last week, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The precipitous fall in recent weeks — except at Japan and Okinawa bases — has caused a backlash of resentment among some consumers.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=58521