YOKOHAMA — An elementary school run by the city of Yokohama has decided not to serve lunch for two days in January due to the hike in food costs stemming from the recent upsurge in crude oil prices, the city education board said Wednesday. It is the only known case of one of its schools curtailing lunch services because of soaring oil prices, according to the board.

An official of the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry also called the decision "unusual nationwide." Ekoda Elementary School decided to cancel lunches on Jan 8-9 as higher food prices led meal costs up to October to surpass initial estimates by nearly 10%. In Yokohama, all 347 city-run elementary schools prepare their lunches on their own and collect 3,700 yen per month, or about 220 yen per day, from pupils. Additional charges are not allowed.

Yum... Petroleum.