THE prices of gasoline went up again by 10 cents.
From $3.88 a gallon, the regular price of gasoline at Mobil Oil Marianas and Shell Marianas is now $3.98 a gallon.
An attendant pumps gasoline into a car’s tank at Mobil Chalan Kiya on Sunday.
Photo by Emmanuel T. Erediano
Mobil Oil changed its prices Friday morning and Shell Marianas followed suit the next day.
The premium gas price went up to $4.43 a gallon from $4.33 a gallon while the price of diesel rose to $4.16 a gallon from $4.06 a gallon.
Friday’s fuel price hike was the first this year and the second since the price freeze was lifted in December.
Although he hopes there won’t be more gas price increases, community volunteer Max Aguon advises his fellow motorists to limit the use of their vehicles.
He said motorists should plan their daily activities and avoid unnecessary travel.
Aguon said it appears that gas price increases cannot be avoided, but every time it happens, he feels sorry for those who have lost their jobs due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic downturn.
According to GasBuddy, a tech company based in Boston, drivers can expect to pay more at the pump in 2021, Illinois-based WREX-13 reported recently.
“Average gasoline prices continue to move higher in most areas as retail gas prices continue to follow the rising price of crude oil, which remains near the highest level since Covid-19 began in March,” WREX-13 quoted Patrick De Haan as saying. De Haan is head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy.
“For now, it’s not the best news for motorists as I expect gas prices may continue their ascent, but while it won’t last forever, it’s likely a sign of what’s to come in 2021 — higher prices. The year ahead will be likely marked by recovery [from] the pandemic and rising demand,” De Haan added.
