Overview
- The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Oct. 7 release, covering prices as of Oct. 5, put Hokkaido's average regular gasoline at 171.30 yen per liter, up 10 sen from the prior survey and marking a second straight weekly rise.
- The nationwide average for regular gasoline held steady at 170.20 yen per liter from the previous survey, leaving Hokkaido slightly above the national level.
- Hokkaido's average kerosene delivery price rose 7 yen to 155.20 yen per liter, and the national diesel price increased by 10 sen to 159.60 yen per liter in the same METI update.
- Kerosene is commonly used for home heating in Hokkaido, so the 7-yen jump is likely to raise winter heating bills for households that buy delivered fuel.
- METI's weekly retail-price survey is the standard data source for short-term fuel trends and tracks small changes measured in sen, so observers will watch coming weekly releases to see if Hokkaido's rises become a sustained trend.