TOKYO, Oct 19 (NNN-NHK) – The average retail price of regular gasoline in Japan, as of Monday, fell 2.2 yen (0.015 U.S. dollars) from a week before to 174.7 yen (1.17 U.S. dollars) per litre, down for the sixth straight week, the industry ministry said, yesterday.
The price was below 175 yen, for the first time, since Jul 24, which means that the government’s target of lowering the price to around 175 yen by the end of Oct has been met, due largely to its expanded subsidies to curb rising gasoline prices.
Without the subsidies, the average pump price would have been 34.6 yen higher at 209.3 yen, according to the ministry.
In the country, the average price ranged from 167.1 yen in Iwate, to 186.2 yen in Nagasaki, and was below 175 yen in 27 prefectures.– NNN-NHK
