Jordan hikes fuel prices again

Amman: Jordan has raised fuel prices for the eighth time in two years as part of a state plan to phase out subsidies as rising oil prices drive up the country's energy costs.

The hike went into effect on Monday.

The government said it raised the price of unleaded gasoline by 5.7 per cent to 0.740 Jordanian Dinars (US$1.03; €0.66) per litre.

Heating fuel and kerosene for household use jumped by 5 per cent to JD 0.630 (US$0.88; €0.57) per litre, while the price of cooking gas remained unchanged.

The last hike in fuel prices was on April 10. In February, the oil-barren Arab kingdom slapped the steepest rise of 111 percent on several fuel products, drawing sharp criticism from opposition groups.