After weeks of paying steadily more for a tank of gasoline, American drivers are beginning to ease up on the gas pedal, but in today's global economy, that might not be enough to lower crude-oil prices and give a lift to U.S. growth.

　　加一箱油的花費連續數周逐步攀升后，美國的司機們開始放松油門了，不過在當今的全球經濟環境下，這可能不足以讓原油降價并提振美國經濟增長。

　　The U.S. Energy Department on Wednesday reported a 1.6% decline in a closely watched gauge of gasoline consumption, compared with a year ago. In the past, when U.S. drivers cut back, that has dented global demand for oil and depressed prices. After a lag, the lower prices would help the economy regain its footing─or at least remove a substantial headwind.

　　Elaine Thompson/Associated Press位于華盛頓州Bellevue的一個加油站，這里的油價是該地區最高的。周三，美國能源部（U.S. Energy Department）公布了備受關注的汽油消費量數據，結果比一年前降了1.6%。過去，美國司機減少汽油用量就會導致全球對石油的需求受挫并會壓低油價。一段時間后，低油價可能會幫助經濟恢復穩定，或至少會消除一個巨大的逆風因素。

　　But many oil experts believe that scenario won't play out this time, because U.S. drivers are no longer calling the shots. The rapidly industrializing economies of China, India, Brazil and even Saudi Arabia are. A possible result: an extended period of sluggish U.S. growth amid high oil prices.

　　但許多石油專家認為，這次不會出現上述情形，因為現在已經不是美國司機說了算了。起主導作用的是中國、印度、巴西甚至沙特阿拉伯等快速工業化的經濟體。一個可能的結果是：由于油價居高不下，美國經濟緩慢增長的局面會出現延長。

　　"It's a new world," said oil economist James D. Hamilton, a professor at the University of California, San Diego. "The growth in newly industrialized countries is the key factor driving oil prices."

　　加州大學圣地亞哥分校（University of California, San Diego）石油經濟學家漢密爾頓（James D. Hamilton）說，世界不同了，新型工業化國家的增長是推動油價的關鍵因素。

　　As U.S. prices for regular gasoline hit $3.88 this week, their highest level since 2008, the Energy Department's report showed that the four-week average of gasoline produced by refineries was 9.1 million barrels a day, down 1.6% from a year earlier. It was the fifth-straight week of declining usage in this closely watched barometer of gasoline consumption.

　　本周美國普通汽油價格觸及每加侖3.88美元，達到2008年以來的最高水平，而美國能源部的報告顯示，煉油廠的四周平均每日汽油產油量為910萬桶，較上年同期跌1.6%。這是備受關注的汽油消費量數據連續第五周下跌。

　　Oil prices, however, ticked up 55 cents to $112.76 a barrel in Wednesday trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

　　不過在周三，紐約商交所（New York Mercantile Exchange）油價每桶收漲55美分，達到112.76美元。

　　In the past few weeks, oil prices have risen sharply amid concerns about turmoil in oil-producing nations in the Middle East and North Africa. Analysts at Goldman Sachs believe this is adding about $10 a barrel to oil prices.

　　過去幾周，由于中東和北非產油國動亂引發擔憂，油價已急劇攀升。高盛（Goldman Sachs）分析師認為，這些地區的動亂將每桶油的價格推高了約10美元。

　　But this short-term bump is partially obscuring a longer-term development in oil markets, the surging demand from China and other emerging economies amid constraint in global supplies.

　　然而這種短期漲價一定程度上模糊了石油市場的長期發展趨勢，雖然全球供應緊張，但中國和其他新興經濟體的需求卻在上升。

　　Economists believe that oil prices would still be above $100 even if peace broke out in North Africa and the Middle East. A key factor: China guzzled 874,000 more barrels of oil in March than it did a year earlier, a 10.6% increase despite high oil prices, notes Barclays Capital.

　　經濟學家認為，即便中東和北非停戰，油價可能仍會高于100美元。巴克萊資本（Barclays Capital）指出，一個關鍵因素是：盡管油價走高，但中國3月份消耗的石油比去年同期多87.4萬桶，漲幅10.6%。

　　Since 2000, U.S. oil consumption has edged down 4% to 19.2 million barrels a day. In the same period, the combined demand from Brazil, India, China and Saudi Arabia has risen 76% to 18.8 million barrels, nearly matching the U.S. By itself, China has more than doubled oil consumption to 9.4 million barrels, according to data from the International Energy Agency.

　　自2000年以來，美國石油消費量已經跌了4%，降至每天1,920萬桶，而巴西、印度、中國和沙特四國的總消費量增長了76%至1,880萬桶，幾乎與美國的消費量相當。國際能源署（International Energy Agency）的數據顯示，中國的石油消費量增長了一倍多，增至940萬桶。

　　"In some respects, the Chinese are pushing us into small cars so they can consume more oil," said Stephen Brown, a professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and former energy economist with the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank.

　　內華達大學拉斯維加斯分校（University of Nevada, Las Vegas）教授、曾任達拉斯聯邦儲備銀行（Dallas Federal Reserve Bank）能源經濟學家的布朗（Stephen Brown）說，從某些方面而言，中國正在推動美國人轉用小型車，這樣中國就能消費更多石油。

　　Rising gasoline prices, economists say, have sapped consumer confidence and altered spending patterns. They are slowing U.S. gross domestic product growth from an already sluggish level.

　　經濟學家說，不斷上漲的汽油價格已經削弱了消費者的信心并改變了消費模式。高油價正在減緩美國國內生產總值（GD）原本已屬緩慢的增長。

　　So far, there is little evidence that high oil prices will send the U.S. economy back into recession. Economists see high gas prices as a growing headwind, not a potential cause of a double-dip recession. Still, concerns are mounting.

　　迄今為止，鮮有跡象顯示高油價會讓美國經濟重回衰退狀態。經濟學家認為高油價是越刮越厲害的逆風，但并非引發二次衰退的潛在因素。盡管如此，擔憂仍在升級。

　　"We think the main risk to the economy is rising commodity prices and their effect on consumer spending," said Dean Maki, chief U.S. economist at Barclays Capital.

　　巴克萊資本的首席美國經濟學家馬奇（Dean Maki）說，我們認為美國經濟面臨的主要風險是大宗商品價格不斷上漲及其對消費者支出的影響。