Gas price drop doesn’t hit Italy

[unhappycamper]

Gas price drop doesn’t hit Italy
By Sandra Jontz, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Tuesday, October 21, 2008

NAPLES, Italy — Paying more for gas than people in the U.S. is one thing, but paying more for fuel than U.S. servicemembers stationed in other European nations incensed June Cretchain.

"All of us are in Europe. All of us should be paying the same amount for gas," Cretchain said. "It should be equal for all Americans in Europe."

The price plunge experienced this weekend for members serving in some European countries was not shared by those serving in Italy. The cost of fuel dropped nearly 10 percent Saturday at Army and Air Force Exchange Service stations in Germany, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. The AAFES-set fuel prices followed on the heels of a record drop in the United States.

There is less flexibility built into the administration of the gas program in Italy, where prices are set by the Tax-Free Office once a month, instead of once a week, as done by AAFES.

With no service pumps available for personal use on any of the military bases in Italy, U.S. and NATO servicemembers buy coupon booklets to redeem at Italian-run Agip or Esso stations. Most motorists are allotted 300 liters of fuel each month.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=58277



uhc comment: I saw regular unleaded at a local station yesterday for $2.6999.