The retail price of regular gasoline this week has dropped to 165.9 yen per liter on a national average for the fifth straight week.
The reason is that the futures price of crude oil temporarily dropped due to the caution that the economic recovery will be delayed due to the influence of the new mutant virus "Omicron strain".
According to the Petroleum Information Center, which is commissioned by the government to investigate gasoline prices, the retail price of regular gasoline as of the 13th was 165.9 yen per liter on average, down 2.1 yen from last week.
Due to the fear that the economic recovery will be delayed due to the influence of the new mutant virus "Omicron strain", the price of crude oil futures has dropped temporarily for the fifth consecutive week.
However, gasoline prices are still at their highest levels since 2014.
In addition, the over-the-counter price of kerosene was 1925 yen per 18 liters on a national average, a decrease of 22 yen from last week, the second consecutive week of decline.
Regarding the outlook for the future, the Oil Information Center said, "The sense of caution about Omicron stocks is gradually weakening, and crude oil prices may turn upward again. We are optimistic about the time when oil demand will increase. I can't. "