Five months after Luis Abinader took over as constitutional president of the Republic, premium and regular gasoline increased 14 and 13 times, respectively, according to an analysis performed by Listín Diario.
While it is true that premium gasoline has dropped in price per gallon six times and regular gasoline seven times, after November 28, 2020, the trend has continued to grow. One gallon of premium gasoline increased RD $ 16.5 in five months, and that of regular gasoline was RD $ 13.6.
The first time it was the turn of the Abinader government to announce the price of gasoline was on August 21, 2020 and the value that it will have in the week of August 22-28 has been established. At that time, premium gasoline cost RD $ 206.60 per gallon and regular gasoline RD $ 196.30, keeping the cost the same.
For the week of August 29 – September 4, 2020, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Mipymes (MICM) announced the first increase in premium gasoline that will be sold at $ 209.30 RD with an increase of $ 2.70 RD and the usual one that would cost RD 199.90 USD, RD 3.60 USD more than the previous week.
After September 5 last year, the price of gasoline continued to rise and fall, but since it was dynamic, when he compared how much gasoline cost from the beginning of the Abinader government with the following weeks, the difference was not very big. marked.
It is so that the price of gasoline has reached a few weeks below what was started to be sold at the beginning of the current government administration and here is an example as proof of this.
Premium gasoline between August 22-28, 2020 was sold at US $ 206.60 per gallon, but between November 14-20 it cost US $ 202.4 and from November 21 to 27 it was worth US $ 204.30, that is, premium gasoline has been kept in the same price range, although it has risen in a few weeks and fallen in others.
The same thing happened with the usual one, because on August 22-28 it cost US $ 196.30, while on November 21-27 it dropped to US $ 191.70.
However, another rooster started singing on November 28, when premium and regular gasoline increased RD $ 2.10 each per gallon and, moreover, never dropped again, for this week in January 16-22 The premium gallon will be offered at $ 223.10 RD, and the regular one at $ 209.90 RD.
In the last eight weeks alone, gasoline has risen by $ 18.8 per gallon to $ 18.2 premium and regular. These increases have been gradual. Let’s see the history of its cost during this period:
Week of November 28 – December 4, 2020
Premium gasoline: RD $ 206.40; climbing RD $ 2.10
Regular gasoline: RD $ 193.80; climbing RD $ 2.10
Week 5-11 December 2020
Premium Gasoline: RD $ 208.90; climbing RD $ 2.50
Regular gasoline: RD $ 196.30; climbing RD $ 2.50
Week of December 12-18, 2020
Premium Gasoline: RD $ 211.50; climbing RD $ 2.60
Regular gasoline: RD $ 199.00; climbing RD $ 2.70
Week 19-25 December 2020
Premium Gasoline: RD $ 213.70; climbing RD $ 2.20
Regular gasoline: RD $ 200.90; climbing RD $ 1.90
Week of December 26, 2020 – January 1, 2021
Premium Gasoline: RD $ 217.20; climbing RD $ 3.50
Regular gasoline: RD $ 203.90; climbing RD $ 3.00
Week 2-8 January 2021
Premium Gasoline: RD $ 217.20; keeping the same price
Regular gasoline: RD $ 203.90; keeping the same price
Week of January 9-15, 2021
Premium gasoline: RD $ 220.00; climbing RD $ 2.80
Regular gasoline: RD $ 206.70; climbing RD $ 2.80
Week 16-22 January 2021
Premium Gasoline: RD $ 223.10; climbing RD $ 3.10
Regular gasoline: RD $ 209.90; climbing RD $ 3.20
Authorities’ explanations
MICM, given the rise in gasoline prices for the week of November 28 – December 4, 2020, explained that this was in response to the increase in the average oil barrel of $ 2.28 on average and the good news for the vaccine. from COVID-19.
The following week, the MICM’s reason for rising fuel prices was the optimistic euphoria of global oil stocks triggered by the approval of the Pfizer vaccine.
In the week of December 12-18, 2020, the justification for the increase was that reference oil in the United States fell with investors waiting for new measures against coronavirus, with a slight increase of $ 0.60 per gallon.
Between 19 and 25 December 2020, the explanation was that the increase in the reference price of crude in the United States was affected by the start of mass vaccinations against COVID-19.
For the week of December 26, 2020 to January 1, 2021, an increase in fuel prices was generated due to global uncertainty due to the new COVID-19 strain, according to MICM.
The state agency reported that between January 2-8, 2021, fuel prices will remain unchanged, as the state has made commitments to US $ 68 million importers to avoid their transfer to the final consumer.
Between January 9-15, 2021, gasoline increased as a barrel of Texas oil rose above $ 50 for the first time since February 2020.
The latest growth and the government’s response
MICM claimed that the Government assumes 70% of the fuel increase in the week of January 16-22, because a barrel of oil exceeds 53 USD.
MICM Deputy Minister of Internal Trade Ramón Pérez Fermín explained: “This means that, for example, premium petrol, instead of collecting US $ 10.37 per gallon, will do so for only $ 3.10 RD. As with regular gasoline, where again, the government will assume 70% of the increase, which means that instead of raising US $ 10.51 per gallon, it will only do so at US $ 3.20.