The retail price of regular gasoline this week averaged 174 yen per liter, down 0.1 yen from last week.
However, due to the depreciation of the yen and the appreciation of the dollar, the cost of procuring crude oil, which is the source of gasoline, is likely to remain high.
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 11th was just 174 yen per liter on average, down 0.1 yen from last week.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry says that it is holding down the retail price by 18.7 yen with a subsidy to an oil wholesale company, but it has exceeded 170 yen for 12 consecutive weeks, the highest level since 2008.
Regarding the outlook for next week, the Oil Information Center said that the member countries of the IEA (International Energy Agency) such as the United States and Japan have decided to release oil reserves in cooperation, and economic activity has slowed in China where the infection is spreading. , There are concerns that the demand for crude oil will decrease, so it is said that the price may drop.
However, the yen is depreciating and the dollar is strengthening in the foreign exchange market, and the cost of procuring crude oil is likely to remain high.