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Fuel prices raised, again
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Posted on Jun 11 2020
The price of fuel in the CNMI continues to rise, nearing the pre-pandemic gas price level in less than a month.
Last Wednesday, the CNMI saw its third gas price hike in a month, with Mobil Oil Mariana Islands Inc. taking the lead and raising the price per gallon of their Extra fuel by 15 cents. Shell Marianas followed suit on Thursday morning.
Gas prices went up from $3.38 for a gallon of Extra fuel to $3.53 per gallon, while the Supreme fuel went from $3.71 per gallon to $3.86. The price of fuel in the CNMI before the government shutdown as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic was at $3.83.
According to a Shell gas attendant who asked for anonymity, he isn’t shocked. “It’s expected. As the economy continues to get back on its feet, we should expect prices to return to what it was before the pandemic,” he said.
He doesn’t believe this is illegal as it relates to the anti-price gouging laws, because gas prices are not decided by the Saipan management. “From what I know, we change our gas prices according to our office in Guam. They just ring us up and inform us if gas [prices] went up or went down. We have no control here,” he said.
According to Saipan Tribune archives, the upward trend in gas prices is being seen worldwide as countries slowly start to reopen their economies and lockdowns are lifted.
In San Diego in the United States, gas prices went up for the ninth time in just 10 days, while gas prices in Detroit continue to climb.
Florida has also seen a significant jump in fuel prices as they work on reopening their economy following a lockdown as a result of COVID-19. Texas saw its first gas increase in two months since the outbreak of COVID-19 back in March.
