Tokyo, Aug. 10 (Jiji Press)–The average retail price of regular gasoline in Japan as of Monday rose 0.2 yen from a week earlier to 170.1 yen per liter, the first increase in six weeks, the industry ministry said Wednesday.

In the week through Wednesday, the ministry provided 37.7 yen per liter in subsidies to oil distributors, helping to push down the national average by 38.3 yen.

Reflecting recent drops in crude oil prices, the government will reduce the subsidies to 31.4 yen from Thursday.

Average retail prices rose in 23 of Japan’s 47 prefectures while falling in 22. The highest average was 183.1 yen in Nagasaki, southwestern Japan.