El Caribe paper reports that propane gas sales have fallen by 21 percent over recent weeks, according to the distributors. Wilfredo Melo, head of the distributors and bottlers group, and Victor Santos Raposo, head of the gas retailers, told reporters that consumption in January was approximately 18 million gallons of propane, while the normal consumption is nearer 23 million gallons. Propane prices have risen by 17 percent over the past month ? from RD$21.42 a gallon to RD$25.17.
