An increase in the wholesale price of gas has resulted in price hikes at the pump, a Licensing and Consumer Affairs Department survey issued Tuesday shows. The survey was done July 9 on St. Croix and July 10 on St. Thomas and St. John.
A press release from Licensing indicates that for the past two months, the territory has experienced continued price increases from a number of gasoline wholesalers that provide fuel to the three islands. The latest increase took effect on July 8 when Hovensa increased the fuel rack rate for regular and diesel fuel by 20 cents and premium by 18.6 cents. The rack rate increase added to 7 cents tax brings the wholesale price per gallon to $1.94 for regular, $2.09 per gallon for premium, and $1.84 per gallon for diesel fuel.
However, the rack rate increase appears not to have hit the pumps yet because Licensing said in its press release that retail prices remained stable over the past two weeks.
As always, St. John topped the charts when it came to price. With only two gas stations, E&C, which sells only self-service gas, was cheapest for both regular and premium. Regular ran $2.86 a gallon, with premium at $3.08 a gallon. E&C is also the only station on St. John that sells diesel. The price was $2.60 a gallon.
Domino Oil is full-service, and its prices were $3.05 for regular and $3.13 for premium.
Gas prices were cheapest on St. Croix, home to the territory’s only oil refinery, Hovensa.
The price for regular self service ranged from $2.12 to $2.30 a gallon for an average of $2.27 a gallon. As for premium self service, the prices ranged from $2.40 a gallon to $2.75 a gallon for an average of $2.54.
Virgin Petroleum – Boetzberg racked up the cheapest price on St. Croix with its $2.12 per gallon charged for self service regular. Gas for Less Mini Mart was the next cheapest with the price running $2.16 a gallon for self service regular.
Lionel Service Center had the cheapest price for premium self service at $2.26 per gallon with Exxcel Service Station running close behind at $2.30 a gallon.
When it comes to full service, Speedy’s Gas was cheapest for regular at $2.40 a gallon and $2.50 a gallon for premium. Smokey’s was the second cheapest for regular full service at $2.46 and $2.66 for premium.
With 27 gas stations selling regular self service gas surveyed on St. Croix, the vast majority – 18 – had the same price at $2.30 a gallon.
Diesel was cheapest at Choice Service Station with a price of $2.43 a gallon.
On St. Thomas, the minimum price for regular self service ran $2.84 a gallon with the maximum $3.06 a gallon. This makes the average $2.94 for self service regular.
When it comes to premium self service, the cheapest on St. Thomas ran $2.94 a gallon, with the most expensive $3.16 a gallon. The average ran $3.04 a gallon.
Gas stations on St. Thomas showed a wide range of prices.
Three St. Thomas gas stations had the cheapest prices on self service regular at $2.84 a gallon. They were Racetrack and One Stop in Sugar Estate and Gasworks in Bovoni. When it came to premium gas, Racetrack and One Stop in Sugar Estate, Hometown Gas in Anna’s Retreat and Gas Works in Bovoni all came in at $2.94 a gallon.
As for full service stations, Domino in Long Bay was cheapest for regular at $2.76 a gallon and premium at $2.88 a gallon.
Diesel was cheapest Domino Long Bay and Gas Works in Bovoni with a price of $2.30.
