美国天然气价格跌至2004年以来最低价格

AS IT IS 2015-12-02 US Gas Prices Fall to Lowest Prices Since 2004 美国天然气价格跌至2004年以来最低价格

Gasoline prices in the United States are nearing their lowest since 2004.

While most of the world sells gas by the liter, the United States sells gas by the gallon. Either way, most of the world pays much more for gas and fuel than the U.S.

The average price in the U.S. was $2.06 per gallon for unleaded regular, according to the American Automobile¹ Association (AAA).

That is about 54 cents per liter.

The average price dropped another penny over the Thanksgiving holiday to 53 cents per liter. That is according to GasBuddy.com, a service that reports on U.S. gas prices.

That would be 21 cents per liter less than a year ago, and 34 cents cheaper per liter than in 2013, GasBuddy says.

Because nearly 90 percent of Americans will travel by car over the winter holidays, the savings² will add up.  

The average cost to fill a car in the United States last week was $28.84. That compares to $45.92 in 2013, for a savings of around $20.

The lowest prices were in Indiana, South Carolina, Alabama, Missouri, Texas and Mississippi, AAA said. All five states have average prices of 49 cents per liter or less.

The highest prices were in states west of the U.S. Rockies. Hawaii had the highest prices, at 74 cents per liter, followed by California, at 71 cents per liter.

The lower prices are a result of oversupply³, according to GasBuddy.

Prices vary in the United States based on state taxes and the local supply of gasoline from nearby refineries⁴.

Worldwide, the lowest average gasoline prices were in Venezuela, just 1.6 cents per liter, according to GlobalPetrolPrices.com.

Libya, Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Kuwait offered gas at less than 26 cents per liter ($1 a gallon), the website reported.

The highest average prices are in the Netherlands at $1.87 per liter; Norway at $1.74 per liter; and the United Kingdom at $1.68 per liter.

The prices differ based on available supplies, taxes imposed by governments and the amount of subsidies⁵. Venezuela not only produces oil, but heavily subsidizes gasoline to keep prices near zero.

Words in This Story

liter – n. a metric unit for the volume of a liquid or gas; there are 3.79 liters in a gallon

destination – n. a place where someone is going or something is being sent

assumes – v. to think or believe something is true without proven facts

slid – v.  to slide or drop

benficary – n. a person, organization, etc., that is helped by something

trend – n. a general direction of change

delighted – v. made very happy

oversupply – n. an amount of something that is more than is needed or wanted

projection⁶ – n. an estimate of what might happen in the future based on what is happening now

subsidies -- n. money that is paid usually by a government to keep the price of a product or service low or to help a business or organization to continue to function

deter⁷ – v. to cause (someone) to decide not to do something

decline – n. to become lower in amount or less in number

1 automobile   

n.汽车，机动车

参考例句：

• He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
• The automobile slowed down to go around the curves in the road.汽车在路上转弯时放慢了速度。

2 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

3 oversupply   

n.供应过量；v.过度供给

参考例句：

• The market softened because of oversupply.市场因供过于求而疲软。
• Overexpansion of tea fields has led to oversupply.茶园过度扩张，使得市场上逐渐供过于求。

4 refineries   

精炼厂( refinery的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The efforts on closedown and suspension of small sugar refineries, small saccharin refineries and small paper mills are also being carried out in steps. 关停小糖厂、小糖精厂、小造纸厂的工作也已逐步展开。
• Hence the sitting of refineries is at a distance from population centres. 所以，炼油厂的厂址总在远离人口集中的地方。

5 subsidies   

n.补贴，津贴，补助金( subsidy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• European agriculture ministers failed to break the deadlock over farm subsidies. 欧洲各国农业部长在农业补贴问题上未能打破僵局。
• Agricultural subsidies absorb about half the EU's income. 农业补贴占去了欧盟收入的大约一半。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 projection   

n.发射，计划，突出部分

参考例句：

• Projection takes place with a minimum of awareness or conscious control.投射在最少的知觉或意识控制下发生。
• The projection of increases in number of house-holds is correct.对户数增加的推算是正确的。

7 deter   

vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住

参考例句：

• Failure did not deter us from trying it again.失败并没有能阻挡我们再次进行试验。
• Dogs can deter unwelcome intruders.狗能够阻拦不受欢迎的闯入者。