Briefly: Tax pushes gas up to 153 yen per liter

The average retail price of regular gasoline nationwide rose to 153.4 yen per liter on Thursday, up 22.8 yen from April 28, the Oil Information Center said Friday.

The "provisional" gasoline surcharge of 25.1 yen was reinstated Thursday, a day after the ruling coalition rammed a bill through the Lower House with a two-thirds majority. The tax is levied when the fuel is shipped from refineries.

Another portion of the rise derives from an increase of between 3.7 and 7 yen per liter in wholesale prices, which occurred Thursday. (IHT/Asahi: May 3,2008)