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Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesDLCA: GAS PRICES HAVE BEEN RISING SINCE '99

DLCA: GAS PRICES HAVE BEEN RISING SINCE '99

The nation and territory have been shelling out more at the pumps in the new year, but 1999 also saw an increase in prices locally.
According to the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs, the wholesale gas price for premium increased 28 cents a gallon while regular increased 27 cents. As wholesale costs increased, so did the retail prices, the DLCA report said.
On St. Thomas, retailers increased their prices on premium self-service and full service gas 35 and 38 cents respectively. Regular full service increased to 38 cents while regular increased 39 cents.
During 1999 on St. Croix, gas stations slightly lowered their per-gallon prices while self-service premium increased by 6.5 cents per gallon. The price of self-serve regular decreased by 6.2 cents, according to the DLCA.
DLCA Commissioner Andrew Rutnik said the present cost of gas isn’t expected to decrease anytime soon. Over the last few weeks on St. Thomas, posted prices were as high as $2.07 a gallon for full-service premium fuel. Prices on St. Croix, home to the HOVENSA refinery, have also gone up.
"It is clear that retailers are using the increase in oil prices to boost their profit margin," Rutnik said. "It’s reprehensible that while oil prices have driven gas prices through the sun roof, local retailers would impose an additional hike on our cash-strapped consumers…."
Nationally, petroleum industry executives are predicting price hikes of up to 60 cents more a gallon by summer.
St. Croix motorists can find lower prices at the self-serve pumps, however. Drivers on the Big Island can reduce their gas costs by as much as 29 percent if they purchase self-serve gas, according to the DLCA.
The best gas buys for regular self-serve on St. Croix are Five Corners and Tony’s at $1.08 a gallon. For premium it is U&W at $1.15.
For both full- and self-serve regular and premium it is Prosperity at $1.19 and $1.23 respectively.
On St. Thomas, the lowest self-serve regular and premium can be found at Fast Stop at $1.83 and $1.93 respectively. American Yacht Harbor has the cheapest regular and premium full service at $1.78 and $1.88.
Domino Oil’s full-service regular and premium is the best bet on St. John at $1.95 and $1.99 respectively.

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