The average retail price of regular gasoline in Japan as of Monday fell ¥1.7 from a week before to ¥184.8 per liter, down for the first time in 18 weeks, thanks to the government's expanded subsidy program, the industry ministry said Wednesday.
The decline came after the national average rewrote a record high for the second consecutive week.
The program to expand subsidies to curb soaring retail prices in stages took effect Thursday. Aiming to push down pump prices to around ¥175 by the end of October, the government will enhance the aid for oil wholesalers again on Oct. 5.