Fighting forces get no break on fuel costs

June 28, 2008 at 12:14AM

Consumers at the pump aren't the only ones suffering sticker shock. Military units fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan will see another hike in fuel costs next week, the second midyear increase because of soaring oil prices.

On July 1, the cost for refined fuel paid by troops will jump from $127.68 a barrel to $170.94 -- an astounding 34 percent hike in just six months and more than double what they were paying three years ago. It's the second such increase this year.

That means combat units, which purchase their fuel at a set price through the Defense Logistics Agency, will start paying $4.07 a gallon for jet fuel. The price is $1.03 more than they have been paying since December but puts costs more in line with a market that has pained the average American.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

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