Previous Story
25-cent gas price rollback billed as NMI’s biggest yet
A Mobil Oil Marianas price board shows the new gas prices. (KIMBERLY ESMORES)
The CNMI community was greeted with an unexpected—and pleasant—surprise yesterday after Mobil Oil Marianas lowered its fuel prices by 25 cents, the largest price rollback of the year so far and the second time in just days.
Around 4pm yesterday afternoon, Mobil Oil Marianas rolled back its fuel prices, just one day since their last. As of 6pm press time, Shell Marianas has yet to reduce its prices but is expected to follow suit today.
Mobil reduced its prices from $6.41 per gallon of their regular fuel to $6.16 a gallon. Also, Mobil now charges $6.61 per gallon of its Supreme Fuel from $6.86 while diesel was also reduced from $7.38 per gallon to $7.13.
The back-to-back price rollback was a welcome relief for most members of the CNMI community, given that CNMI fuel prices have been gradually increasing in the past few months.
A 25-year-old local motorist said it’s always a welcome surprise to see fuel prices going down.
“Whenever I pull up to the pump and see another reduction in fuel prices, it’s always like opening a present to find money inside. It doesn’t matter how much money you get, but you’re just always happy to get cash as gifts. That’s how I feel when I see prices have gone down. It doesn’t matter if its 10 cents or 25 cents, it’s always exciting,” she said.
Another motorist, a 52-year-old man, said he was surprised to see fuel prices go down again after just one day.
“I had to look twice to make sure it was real. It’s unbelievable that after only one day, gas went down another 25 cents. In total, that’s a 40-cent rollback in just one week. I just pray this continues,” he said.
The latest increase in fuel prices happened just two weeks ago, with local oil companies across Saipan raising prices by 15 cents.
Prior to that increase, in the first week of June, fuel prices were increased 15 cents.
A steady increase in fuel prices was also seen throughout the month of May with the last increase of 15 cents seen on May 20.
However, oil companies have been raising their prices by 15 cents since April.
The steepest increase was back in April 20, when local oil companies increased their prices by 20 cents, bringing regular fuel prices up to $5.96 a gallon.
