국제 유가가 영국과 나이지리아의 생산 차질에 대한 우려로 배럴당 1백20달러에 육박하면서 또 다시 최고기록을 경신했습니다.
28일 뉴욕 상품거래소에서 6월 인도분 원유 가격은 배럴당 1백19달러 93센트까지 올라갔다가 나중에 조금 떨어졌습니다.
한편, 석유수출국기구 오펙은 원유 가격이 배럴 당 2백 달러까지 올라갈 수도 있다고 말했습니다. 로이터 통신에 따르면, 차키브 켈릴 오펙 의장은 알제리 정부 신문과의 회견에서, 고유가는 달러화가치 하락에 따른 것으로 원유 공급과는 아무런 관련이 없다고 말했습니다.
이런 가운데, 미국의 트럭운전사들은 워싱턴에 집결해 고유가에 항의하는 시위를 벌였습니다.
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Crude oil prices have hit a record high, nearly 120 dollars a barrel, fueled by worries about output in Britain and Nigeria.
Crude oil for June delivery hit 119 dollars and 93 cents a barrel in New York today (Monday), before easing downward in later trading.
Oil prices surged after Britain closed a North Sea oil pipeline -- which carries about 40 percent of the country's oil -- due to a worker strike. In Nigeria, recent attacks on oil facilities and a strike have cut oil production in half.
The president of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries says oil prices could go as high as 200 dollars a barrel.
According to the Reuters news agency, OPEC chief Chakib Khelil told Algeria's government newspaper ("El Moudjahid") the high prices are a result of the dollar's slide, and have little to do with oil supplies.
Hundreds of U.S. truckers have driven into central Washington to protest high fuel prices.
A convoy of truckers arrived in the nation's capital today (Monday). Drivers honked horns and clogged traffic to draw attention to the soaring prices.
The AAA (or "Triple A") travel and automobile group says the nationwide average cost for a liter of gasoline is 95 cents, up from 77 cents a year ago. It says the average price for a liter of diesel is one-dollar and 11 cents, up from 95 cents from the previous year.
U.S. President George Bush said Friday at the White House that he hopes tax rebates being issued starting today will help offset costs at the gas pump and grocery store, and give the economy a much-needed boost.