VOA标准英语2012--Oil Prices Ease, But Airlines Still Worried

Oil Prices Ease, But Airlines Still Worried 

Jet fuel prices were about one-seventh of the expenses for a typical airline a decade ago - consuming less of the budget than pay for pilots and other workers. 

But International Air Transport Association spokesman Perry Flint says that has changed drastically and fuel costs now exceed salaries

"Today, jet fuel is the largest expense. On an industry-wide basis, we calculate that it represents about 34 percent of an airline’s operating expenses," Flint said. 

Experts at the airline trade group say high fuel costs have already caused them to cut forecasts for the industry’s expected annual profit by $500 million to just $3 billion. 

Profits could fall further if a political or military conflict causes crude oil prices to rise sharply and hit $150 a barrel. Flint says that could push the whole industry into significant losses. 

So, what will happen to oil prices over the next few months? 

"That is really difficult to know, and if I knew what it was going to do, I would be the wealthiest woman on the planet," said Rayola Dougher, a senior economic adviser¹ for the American Petroleum² Institute, which represents oil companies. 

She says prices rose because of worries that unrest could hurt production in nations that export oil, cutting world supply. 

“We are into a great deal of uncertainty³ moving forward especially with instability in the Middle East, we don’t know how that is going to play out. We don’t know what will happen with the sanctions with Iran,” Dougher said.

Recently, demand and prices are down because some major economies are growing more slowly or even shrinking.

Dougher says demand may be cut further as high U.S. gasoline prices prompt Americans to conserve⁴ fuel by getting smaller cars and driving less. She says these changes are likely to happen should U.S. prices go above $1.05 a liter and stay there. 

The nationwide average price was within a few cents of that level just weeks ago, but has fallen recently. 

She says lower oil prices can help economic growth, by freeing up money for business and consumers to spend, and driving up demand for goods and services. 

1 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

2 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

3 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

4 conserve   

vt.保存，保护，节约，节省，守恒，不灭

参考例句：

• He writes on both sides of the sheet to conserve paper.他在纸张的两面都写字以节省用纸。
• Conserve your energy,you'll need it!保存你的精力，你会用得着的！