From $3.92 a gallon, Mobil’s unleaded gasoline is now $4.02. The price of its premium gasoline also went up from $4.22 to $4.34 while its diesel is now 12 cents more expensive compared to last month — from $4.09 to $4.21.
Filling station managers said they were instructed by their main office to increase the prices at 10 a.m. yesterday.
Jasper Pedro, boat captain of Day Dream Saipan Diving, already had his five containers filled when he learned about the increase.
“I did not see it,” he said referring to the new price on the signboard. Pedro bought $100 worth of gasoline for the boat.
Roel Mariano, cameraman of Saipan TV, said he also did not notice the new price but added that he had no choice but to pay for it.
“It’s too high,” he said.
The last time Mobil’s gasoline prices exceeded $4 was in April 2008 when the cost of its unleaded and premium was $4.32 and $4.50 a gallon.
The price reached $5 a gallon weeks later before sliding to $4.97 in July of the same year.
Last month, it was Shell Marianas that first increased its fuel prices and Mobil followed suit on the next day.
As of 4 p.m. yesterday, Shell had not increased its prices.
