Heading out this morning, I glanced at the board at the corner gas station and saw fuel prices jumping up again. Regular gasoline went straight from 4,400 riels a liter to 4,800 riels, while diesel climbed even higher to 5,450 riels a liter. These new prices kicked in at 1:00 PM on September 11 and will run through the 21st.
To be honest, filling up these days makes the riel slip through your fingers faster than ever. Delivery riders and tuk-tuk drivers zipping around town just shake their heads when they look at the pump. Over at the local coffee stalls, neighbors sitting around chatting always end up complaining about when these prices are ever going to give us a break.
According to local reports, the government has been stepping in to help ease the burden on everyday folks, keeping tax cuts on imports and various surcharges in place. But with global oil prices where they are, people just sigh at the meter and pay up—after all, we still need our wheels to make a living.
