Overview
- Japan’s METI reported the national average retail price for regular gasoline at ¥155.10 per liter as of January 13, the lowest since June 2021.
- Excluding the year‑end week with no survey, pump prices have declined for nine straight weeks.
- The provisional gasoline tax add‑on of ¥25.10 per liter was abolished on December 31, directly reducing retail prices.
- Price dispersion remains wide by prefecture, from ¥147.30 in Aichi to ¥165.40 in Kagoshima.
- In contrast, eastern Hokkaido faces unusually high kerosene costs, with Kitami’s December delivery average at ¥125.72 per liter and reports of residents cutting heating due to long-haul distribution and local logistics.