As many readers know by now, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce raised the price for diesel, regular gasoline, and premium gasoline for the fourth straight week, reaching levels of RD$100.30, RD$127.30 and RD$138.10 respectively. Propane gas, LPG, was lowered by RD$1.04 to RD$43.47 for domestic use. The last four weeks have seen a RD$7.00 increase in fuels across the board. This year began with a considerable reduction in gasoline consumption due to the increase in the use of propane for vehicular use.
Meanwhile, Diario Libre reports that government fuel tax collections fell short 28% of the budgeted numbers. The revenues were even below collections in January 2006 – RD$1.22 billion in January 2007, compared to RD$1.28 billion in January 2006.