A story by Jose Maria Reyes in last evening’s Ultima Hora tells of a historic rise in the price of propane cooking gas over the past few years. From August of 2000 until February of 2003 the price increases have ranged from 49 percent to as much as 313 percent. According to the page-nine article, the increases began with the ratification of the Hydrocarbons Law (112-00), which permits price fluctuations. In the government of Leonel Fernandez, propane was sold at RD$6.00 per gallon ? a paltry sum compared to last Saturday’s price of RD$25.17 per gallon. The 100-pound tank of propane that once sold for RD$144.00 was sold last week for RD$603.08, representing an increase of 314 percent.