From AP via usatoday.com:
China’s central government has subsidized transportation in rural areas and urged local officials to help the urban poor after it raised fuel prices by nearly 10% this past week, state media reported.
Those who price gouge or spread rumors about the practice will be “severely punished” in order to maintain stable prices for refined oil, and natural and liquefied gas, the Xinhua News Agency said Saturday, citing a circular from China’s top economic planning body. Beijing raised prices of gasoline and diesel fuel by nearly 10% on Thursday to curb demand amid shortages that have caused long lines at filling stations and disrupted trucking in key export areas. [Full Text]
