Self-service gas stations in Japan buck industry slump

Despite falling demand for gasoline, self-service gas stations in Japan are steadily expanding their presence thanks to lower prices. There were about 42,000 gas stations in Japan in Fiscal 2008, down 30% from the peak in Fiscal 1994 and marking the 14th straight year of decline, according to the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy. The shrinkage is the result of a growing consumer preference for fuel-efficient cars and the increasing tendency among today’s younger people to not own a car. Self-service stations are concentrated mainly along major roads in large cities, and the competition is fierce. The holiday discounts offered on highway tolls boosted gasoline sales last year, but industry experts predict that the overall downtrend in demand will continue. (March 10, 2010)