TOKYO (MNI) - The average price of regular gasoline in Japan this week fell to Y126.3 ($1.41) per liter, or $5.36 per gallon, from Y126.4 last week, posting its fifth straight weekly drop, according to data released by the Oil Information Center on Wednesday.

In the week of Oct. 5, 2009, the average price of regular gasoline posted its first week-to-week decline in about nine months and then dropped for the fifth consecutive week until the Nov. 2 week. It was unchanged in the Nov. 9 week.

Retail gasoline prices had been on a general uptrend since mid-January this year.

The average gasoline price rose for the 16th consecutive week until the week of July 20, 2009 before staying unchanged for three weeks through Aug. 10. It then rose for the fifth straight week through Sept. 14 and remained unchanged for two weeks in a row through Sept. 28.

Earlier, the price gained for the 10th straight week through March 23, 2009, then marked time in the week ending March 30 before resuming an upward march in the first week of April.

The national average price of Y106.0 marked on Jan. 13, 2009 was the lowest level since the Y100.8 recorded on March 29, 2004.

The price had drifted down for a 22nd consecutive week through Jan. 13, 2009, after hitting a record high of Y185.1 on Aug. 4, 2008, reflecting the fall in crude oil prices from their mid-July peak.

This week the average price of high-octane gasoline was at Y137.1 per liter, down from Y137.2 last week. It hit a record high of Y196.0 on Aug. 4, 2008.

The average price for diesel oil was at Y105.9 per liter this week, unchanged from last week. It compared with the record high of Y167.4 hit on Aug. 4, 2008.

The average over-the-counter price of kerosene for heating stood at Y1,252 per 18 liters, unchanged from last week. It posted a record high of Y2,378 on Aug. 11, 2008.

The average home-delivery kerosene price this week was at Y1,379 per 18 liters, up from Y1,378 from last week. It hit a record high of Y2,484 on Aug. 11, 2008.

tokyo@marketnews.com ** Market News International Tokyo Newsroom: 81-3-5403-4833**